The Entry-Into-Force signing ceremony of a US$25 million threshold program designed to support the Gambia‘s electricity sub-sector with a focus on governance, accountability, and improvement of NAWEC operations through the Millennium Challenge Cooperation, MCC, of the United States.
Abdoulie Jobe, the minister of petroleum and energy, and Sharon Cromer, the U.S. ambassador, oversaw the signing.
The Minister stated that during the event that the threshold program was presented to and approved by the MCC board of directors in September 2021 thanks to the government of the Gambia and the MCC team’s excellent efforts, devotion, and hard work.
The grant agreement was signed by the Gambia’s government and the MCC on November 16, 2021, he continued, adding that it had been approved by the National Assembly and given H.E. President Adama Barrow’s assent on March 3, 2022.
He said that the government is making significant investments with the help of partners to turn the industry around and achieve greater financial and operational performance as well as to set the nation up for a clean energy transition by fully using our renewable energy resources.
He claims that the threshold program will enable the execution of crucial institutional and policy reforms to enhance the governance of the power sector and the operations of NAWEC, consolidating the gains made in the energy sector.
The petroleum and energy minister also made the point that the program’s successful implementation would help the nation qualify for a Millennium Challenge Compact, which he said is the government’s ultimate goal in order to be able to access the money needed to finance critical investments in the power sector to combat poverty and promote economic growth.
The award, according to the U.S. ambassador, Sharon Cromer, who spoke at the signing ceremony, will strengthen the power sector’s governance and operational capabilities and set the framework for expanding The Gambia’s access to dependable electricity.
“Reliable electricity is essential not just for economic growth, but also the provision of education, health care, tourism and much more. It promotes a robust, healthy, and productive society.”
She reaffirmed that the award will also assist The Gambia in meeting its Nationally Determined Contributions to reduce greenhouse gases and the country’s efforts to attain universal electricity access by 2025.
She claims that at this pivotal juncture in The Gambia’s history, the MCC threshold program is the basis for long-term economic progress. She reaffirmed that The Gambia’s partner in the United States is and will continue to be a strong and dependable one.