Modou Lamin Bah, the National Assembly Member for Banjul North, recently defended a candlelight protest held two weeks prior in the Greater Banjul Area, criticizing ongoing power outages. Bah stated the demonstration aimed to highlight the persistent electricity crisis affecting residents. He further elaborated that the protest was a direct response to the acute power outage in the capital, which had left many in darkness. "We cannot develop Banjul North and The Gambia in darkness," Bah said, adding that the protest stemmed from widespread frustration. He emphasized that in the current year, which he cited as 2026, citizens should not be living by candlelight. "We were tired of darkness and that in this age (2026) our people should not live by candle light," Bah affirmed, showing the anachronism of such conditions in modern times.
Justifying the Protest
Modou Lamin Bah stated that parts of the Greater Banjul Area experience power outages lasting 12 hours or more, a situation he described as unacceptable for residents and businesses alike. The National Assembly Member attributed the ongoing power crisis to a combination of factors, including the failure of major generation machines, reduced regional electricity imports, and an aging transmission network. These systemic issues, he noted, have severely impacted the reliability of the electricity supply. Bah further appealed to young people in Banjul and other areas to maintain peace and order during demonstrations, emphasizing the importance of non-violent expression as a means to convey their grievances effectively and ensure their message is heard without distraction.
Context of the Crisis
The recent candlelight protest in the Greater Banjul Area specifically addressed the acute power outage affecting the capital, noting the severe impact on daily life. Residents have experienced prolonged electricity disruptions, which prompted the demonstration as a collective outcry. The outages have been attributed to multiple factors, including the malfunction of major electricity generation machines and a significant reduction in imported power from regional sources, thereby straining the domestic supply. Additionally, the existing transmission network, described as aging and inadequate, contributes significantly to the instability of the power supply and frequent blackouts. These compounding issues have led to significant frustration among the population, particularly in areas like Banjul North, where residents reportedly face outages of 12 hours or more, disrupting economic activities and household routines. The protest, which spread across the Greater Banjul Area, served as a powerful testament to the widespread discontent.
Calls for Action
Modou Lamin Bah called on the National Water & Electricity Company (Nawec) to provide a clear and consistent load-shedding timetable to allow residents to plan around the outages, which he argued would at least offer some predictability in an otherwise chaotic situation. The National Assembly Member urged the government to expedite the implementation of its previously promised solutions to the ongoing power crisis, stressing the urgency of the situation. Bah emphasized the necessity of tangible actions to alleviate the persistent electricity disruptions affecting communities across the Greater Banjul Area, rather than relying on temporary fixes. He reiterated the importance of transparency from utility providers regarding the causes and expected duration of outages, and called for swift governmental intervention to address the structural issues contributing to the unstable power supply and ensure long-term energy security for the nation.
Assembly Member's Stance
The candlelight protest, initially defended by Modou Lamin Bah, the National Assembly Member for Banjul North, quickly spread across the Greater Banjul Area, indicating a broad public consensus on the severity of the power crisis. The demonstration aimed to draw attention to the severe power outages impacting residents and businesses throughout the region, disrupting daily life and economic productivity. This widespread participation showed the deep frustration among the populace regarding the persistent electricity crisis, which has become a significant impediment to development and quality of life. The protest served as a collective expression of discontent over the unreliable power supply that has plagued communities within the Greater Banjul Area for an extended period.