The Gambian government has pushed back against what it describes as growing misinformation and politically motivated attacks surrounding the country’s electricity supply challenges, accusing some individuals and groups of exploiting the ongoing power crisis for political gain.
In a strongly worded statement, the government said it was concerned about the spread of what it called “falsehoods, deliberate distortions and politically motivated narratives” on social media and other online platforms regarding governance, corruption and recent electricity disruptions.
The statement comes as frustration continues to grow among Gambians affected by prolonged power outages across the Greater Banjul Area and other parts of the country, with many taking to social media to criticise both the government and the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC).
However, the government said while citizens have every right to be concerned about the outages, it was irresponsible for some individuals and groups to use the situation to undermine public confidence and score political points.
“It is both irresponsible and unfortunate that some individuals and groups have chosen to exploit these temporary challenges to spread falsehoods, undermine public confidence, and score cheap political points,” the statement said.
The government also rejected what it described as attempts to turn allegations of corruption into social media campaigns, insisting that issues of public accountability should be handled through established institutions and evidence-based processes.
According to the statement, the current electricity supply difficulties are linked to technical and operational challenges that are already being addressed through ongoing interventions and regional energy cooperation efforts, particularly under the OMVG framework.
The government pointed to what it described as major achievements under President Adama Barrow’s administration, including expanded access to electricity, improved generation capacity and investments in energy infrastructure.
It further argued that the country had enjoyed one of its most stable periods of electricity supply over the past year, with many households and businesses benefiting from fewer outages and improved service.
“Temporary technical challenges currently affecting electricity supply should be viewed within their proper context,” the government said, adding that isolated operational problems should not justify what it called “alarmism” and politically charged narratives.
The statement urged politicians, activists, media outlets and members of the public to exercise restraint and responsibility in public discussions, while stressing that constructive criticism remains welcome in a democratic society.
The government also reassured citizens that efforts are ongoing to stabilise electricity supply and improve service delivery, while encouraging the public to rely on official sources for information and avoid spreading unverified claims.
The statement comes at a time when public frustration over electricity outages remains high, with many households and businesses continuing to grapple with the impact of extended blackouts.
