The Gambian government has responded to growing criticism surrounding the country’s electricity outages, accusing some individuals and groups of using the situation to spread misinformation and score political points.

The government expressed concern over what it described as “falsehoods, deliberate distortions and politically motivated narratives” circulating on social media and online platforms regarding governance, corruption and the ongoing power outages.

The statement comes as many Gambians continue to endure prolonged electricity outages across the Greater Banjul Area and other parts of the country, with frustration mounting among households and businesses affected by the disruptions.

While acknowledging the concerns of citizens, the government said it was unfortunate that some people had chosen to exploit the situation rather than contribute constructively to finding solutions.

“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 propaganda, insisting that matters of public accountability should be addressed through credible institutions and the rule of law.

According to the statement, the current electricity outages are linked to technical challenges affecting regional power imports and operational constraints within the energy sector, issues which authorities said are actively being addressed.

The government highlighted what it described as significant progress made under President Adama Barrow’s administration in expanding electricity access, improving generation capacity and modernising energy infrastructure.

It further argued that for much of the past year, Gambians experienced one of the most stable periods of electricity supply in recent history, with fewer interruptions and improved access to power.

The government said the current outages should be viewed within that broader context and cautioned against what it called alarmist and politically charged narratives.

“Temporary technical challenges currently affecting electricity supply in parts of the country should be viewed within their proper context,” the statement said.

The government urged political actors, activists, media organisations and members of the public to exercise responsibility in their commentary, stressing that constructive criticism is welcome but the politicisation of temporary national challenges does not serve the country’s interests.

It also reassured citizens that efforts are ongoing to restore stable electricity supply, strengthen service delivery and continue advancing development projects.

The statement comes as public anger continues to grow over the outages, with many residents reporting losses to businesses, spoiled food and disruptions to daily life as they wait for normal electricity supply to be restored.

By Adama Makasuba