The National People’s Party (NPP) has warned that public frustration over electricity blackouts must not be weaponised to destabilise the country, adding that vandalism and political exploitation will only punish ordinary citizens, not politicians.
In a strongly worded statement signed by NPP Media and Communication Secretary Sulayman Camara, the ruling party acknowledged the hardship caused by Nawec’s failures but argued that protest should be done peacefully and responsibly.
The NPP said it understands the anger in homes, businesses, and schools.
“When electricity becomes unreliable, businesses suffer, families are inconvenienced, students struggle to study and economic activity is affected,” it stated.
“Citizens have every right to demand reliable public services and to express their concerns peacefully.”
But the party warned that frustration must never become “a license for vandalism, destruction of public infrastructure or criminality.”
“Destroying roads, public infrastructure, or national assets does not punish a political party. It ultimately imposes another financial burden upon the taxpayer,” the statement said.
The NPP used the crisis to defend President Adama Barrow’s record, calling the electricity expansion the biggest in Gambian history.
“For 52 years and through successive governments, reliable electricity was the proverbial elephant in the room. Entire communities grew accustomed to darkness,” it averred.
The party credited the Universal Access to Electricity programme and major investments for pushing national access to approximately 95%.
“Whatever one’s political affiliation, the expansion of electricity under President Barrow deserves acknowledgement. No administration in the history of our country has overseen a greater expansion of national electricity access,” it declared.
The party also cited subsidised meters, rural electrification, and regional energy integration through OMVG as proof that “that reality has changed dramatically.”
On the current crisis, the NPP blamed a mix of regional supply constraints on the OMVG interconnected system and domestic operational challenges at Nawec, including problems with generating equipment.
“Energy insecurity is not unique to The Gambia,” the NPP said, noting global pressures from fuel costs, ageing infrastructure, and growing demand.
The core of the NPP’s message was stability.
“The greatest national asset we possess is not a road, bridge, power station or government building, it is peace,” Camara said.
“That peace does not belong to President Barrow. It does not belong to the NPP. It does not belong to the opposition. It belongs to every family that wants to raise its children in a stable country. We must guard our peace jealously.”
The party accused political actors of exploiting the crisis and warned youth not to be “used as instruments of confrontation.”
“Let politics remain politics, peaceful protest remain peaceful protest, and criminality be treated as criminality,” the statement read.