Team Gom Sa Bopa has called on the National Water and Electricity Company (Nawec) to reverse its increment of energy and water costs.

This comes after Nawec increased its rate by 37% on cash power and 20% on water

The civil rights group, which staged a protest today (13 May), issued a month ultimatum to the energy company to heed to their demands.

The group’s president, Ali Cham a musician who is better known as Killa Ace, said in a petition letter delivered to the company to ensure stable supply of water and electricity to all customers connected to the Nawec grid. 

“Engage the wider public on the increases as dictated by section 34(2)b of the PURA Act 2001, Reverse the Tariffs for Electricity (-37%) and Water (-20%) to a more reasonable price like it was before, Respond to our demands within a period of one month within which regular engagement 

could be held.

“If Nawec heeds to our demands The Gambia will return to being the sixth most expensive country to purchase electricity in West Africa, which in our view is still very high. 

“If Nawec fails to heed to our demands the general public has been placed on notice to launch another protest against Nawec and its extortionately high tariffs,” he said.

“If this extortionate Tariff continues many Gambians will not be able to pay for water and electricity forcing many more into poverty. 

“The alternatives don’t look good either with some people opting for boreholes which if many more are to adopt will have significant impact on our water table thereby affecting our environment and crops access to underground water.

“We are aware that the PURA Act 2001 [34(2)b] mandates for your institution to engage your customers before increasing their tariffs and we call on Nawec to conduct consultation with the Gambian people who are mostly paying prepaid cash-power and not owing Nawec a butut.

“As many will observe the hardship in the country has increased over the past month with many salaries not able to last to the end of the month. 

“Many are struggling to pay cash-power and if this continues taps will eventually go dry if Nawec starts cutting access to water for people who delay payment or can’t pay their increased water bills at all,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba