President Adama Barrow has said that contrary to widespread speculation, the electricity in his home village of Mankamang Kunda was funded by the Senegalese-American singer Aliaune Badara Thiam, popularly known as Akon through his #AkonlightingAfrica initiative.
The #AkonlightingAfrica initiative seeks to address energy insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa where two-thirds of the population is without electricity.
“It all began when Akon visited The Gambia last year. During a meeting with him at State House, he promised to electrify the village. This is how it all came about and today thanks to him, every house in Mankamang Kunda is enjoying electricity,” President Barrow told EYE-Africa online TV.
Barrow also talked about his house in Mankamang Kunda, saying he is aware that there is a lot of talking about the house but it is natural that human beings are difficult to deal with.
“How many years have I spent working in this country before becoming a president? You see, I built five bedroom houses in Mankamang Kunda before becoming a president. When I was building my last house, I was just coming from an election defeat in 2007. I took my mother to Mecca the same year and built another house for our elder brother and constructed a shop for him,” Barrow said.
He continued: “Before becoming president, I constructed 14 bedrooms in Mankamang Kunda. This recent development was just to expand the compound and that was done by people who were supporting me before my presidency. I believe if I am now the president, I should visit there and other important people will have to come there while I am there,” he said.
