By: Isatou Sarr
A parliamentarian has expressed disquiet over persistent power cuts experienced in Greater Banjul Area saying the problem contribute to sharp rise in criminality activities.
Hon. Modou Lamin B. Bah, the National Assembly Member for Banjul North, in an interview with the Voice raised concerns over the impact of persistent power outages saying the blackouts are contributing to rising theft cases and other security challenges.
Bah said the frequent outages have disrupted daily life, affecting households, students and businesses through food spoilage, reduced study time and loss of income.
According to the lawmaker, prolonged periods of darkness and the failure of security systems during blackouts have created opportunities for criminal activities.
He also pointed to incidents of infrastructure vandalism, including the theft of cables at the Jambur Solar Plant in June 2025, as evidence of the security threats facing the electricity sector.
Bah warned that theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure further weaken the national power grid and contribute to prolonged outages.
While acknowledging ongoing and planned energy projects aimed at improving electricity supply, he said residents of the Greater Banjul Area continue to face immediate security concerns during blackout periods.
The Banjul North representative called on the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy to strengthen security patrols, accelerate transformer replacement programs, tackle cable theft, improve communication on load-shedding schedules and address illegal electricity connections.
Bah described the electricity situation as both utility and public safety issue, urging authorities to take swift measures to improve power supply and enhance security for residents.