Minister Juwara gave the update while responding to the Public Enterprises Committee’s report on consolidated audit findings covering NAWEC’s Gambia Electricity Restoration and Modernisation Project (GERMP), Gambia Electricity Access Project (GEAP) and ECOREAP.
According to the minister, overall system work under the Electricity Access Project had reached 91.87 percent as of 15 June 2024. He said the government remained aware of the delays and continued to engage contractors to ensure timely compensation and progress.
On GERMP, Juwara explained that some delays were mainly caused by limitations in the resettlement action plan study, which was conducted during the COVID‑19 pandemic. He said this affected the detailed mapping of affected properties and the preparation of compensation.
The minister added that weaknesses identified in payment verification had been fully resolved, with safeguards now in place to prevent similar issues.
On concerns over withholding tax, Juwara said the initial understanding was that project funds were exempt, which explained why withholding tax was not deducted from contract payments. Following a 2024 directive from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, contractors, consultants and suppliers were informed. However, NAWEC management maintains that the directive should apply only to new contracts, warning that applying it retroactively could severely affect contractors and disrupt delivery. This position has been formally communicated to the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs.
For ECOREAP, the minister acknowledged scheduling and capacity challenges. Contractors were directed to submit mitigation plans and placed under continued monitoring to improve performance.
He also said communities affected by transmission lines were consulted during environmental and resettlement assessments, while compensation was applied to individuals whose farmlands were directly affected by medium‑voltage infrastructure.
Juwara further maintained that vehicles using project fuel during the review period were deployed exclusively for official assignments, including technical visits and environmental and social monitoring missions.
