Protesters under the banner of Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA) on Friday handed the National Water and Electricity Company a 10-day ultimatum to restore reliable electricity and water supply across the country amid growing public frustration over prolonged outages.

The demonstration, held at Westfield, saw protesters light candles and switch on torchlights as a symbol of what they described as the darkness and hardship caused by the persistent power and water disruptions.

Delivering a petition on behalf of the group, GALA spokesperson Omar Saibo Camara said Gambians had endured years of unreliable services despite significant investments in the utility sector.

“We hereby submit this petition to express our profound concern and outrage over the persistent failure of NAWEC to provide reliable and adequate electricity and water supply to the people of The Gambia,” Camara said.

He argued that the recent nationwide electricity disruptions, which have also affected water production and distribution, have worsened the suffering of citizens and disrupted livelihoods across the country.

“Access to electricity and clean water is not a privilege. It is a basic necessity and essential public service. Citizens pay for these services and are therefore entitled to expect they are delivered efficiently, reliably and consistently,” he added.

He further questioned why electricity and water services remain unstable despite what he said were millions of dollars in public expenditure and donor-funded projects directed at the energy sector between 2017 and 2026.

According to him, the continued challenges cannot be blamed on a lack of funding but rather on what he described as poor planning, weak management, lack of accountability and operational shortcomings.

The group warned that if significant improvements are not made within the next 10 days, further action could follow.

The protest comes amid increasing public concern over recurring power outages and water shortages that have affected homes, businesses, schools, hospitals and other public institutions across the country.

By Adama Makasuba

Photo credit: VOD