By: Binta Jaiteh
Mobile phone repairers and fish vendors in The Gambia have expressed concern over recurring power outages, saying the situation is affecting their businesses and causing financial losses.
In separate interviews, traders described the electricity shortages as a major challenge to their daily operations and called on the authorities to address the problem urgently.
Alieu Bah, a mobile phone repairer, says his business depends entirely on electricity.
“Our work depends on electricity. How can we work without power? This is a big challenge to our business. We cannot continue to lose revenue,” he said.
According to him, the outages have significantly reduced business activities and affected incomes.
He urged the authorities to take urgent measures to ensure a reliable electricity supply, stressing that electricity and water are essential services for citizens and businesses.
Another mobile repairer, Amadou Ceesay, says the country needed lasting solutions to the electricity challenges.
“We cannot continue without electricity. This is becoming unbearable,” he said.
Modou Lamin Darboe, also a mobile phone repairer, said prolonged power cuts had negatively affected small businesses.
“For three days we did not have electricity. The revenue lost during this period is considerable. The government should act quickly to resolve the situation,” he said.
At Serekunda Market, fish vendor Aminata Cham said the outages had resulted in spoilage of perishable goods, leading to losses for traders.
“I spent a lot of money to buy fish. Fish is already scarce and expensive. We work hard to obtain it, and now electricity shortages are creating additional difficulties,” she said.
She called on the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) to take steps to restore a stable power supply and prevent further losses for traders.
Recent power disruptions in several parts of the country have affected households and businesses, prompting calls for urgent intervention to improve electricity services.
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