The two-day session is being held following the preparatory meeting of experts held recently, which drew delegates from the four west African nations. At the event, the OMVG Council of Ministers will consider the 2024 Activity Report, the 2025 Work Programme and its related budget.
Further, the extraordinary session is being held in preparation for the Ordinary Session of the Conference of Heads of State and Government of OMVG Member States.
Set up in 1978, the Organisation for the Development of The Gambia River (OMVG), is a subregional institution that promotes effective coordination for the rational and harmonious exploitation of the resources of The Gambia, Kayanga-Geba and Koliba-Corubal River basins.
It also focuses on water, energy, agriculture, transportation and other environmental conservation initiatives. However, among the key highlights is the OMVG Energy project, which seeks to ensure affordable and renewable electricity, thus reducing dependency on fossil fuels and promote sub-regional integration.
The OMVG High Commission is the implementing body for the integrated development of programmes implemented by the four member countries for the rational and harmonious exploitation of the resources of The Gambia, Kayanga-Geba and Koliba-Corubal River basins.
It would be recalled that in 2024, the interconnection network was fully commissioned, giving countries the opportunity to enhance their national electricity supply networks and connect to other West African networks in order to facilitate electricity exchanges.
Welcoming the delegates, Rohey John-Manjang, minister for Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources, said the forum forms another significant milestone in “our collective efforts” in addressing the environmental, energy and socioeconomic challenges in the sub-region.
“The Gambia as a founding member of the OMVG recognises the importance of the regional cooperation and the sustainable management of our shared natural resources.”
She made reference to the important transboundary under the project and by extension the subregion, pointing out that it is the lifeline for millions of people.
“It provides people with the opportunity to improve food security, energy access and biodiversity conservation, which are essential in achieving sustainable development goals for all the member countries.”
To that end, the environment minister underscored the importance of the event, while referencing on some of the environmental challenges such as rising temperatures, unpredictable weather rainfall patterns and increased flooding.
Thus, she paid glowing tribute to all those affected by this year’s rising floods in the four- member countries and even beyond, further calling on all to be active in mitigating the impacts of climate change.
This, negative impact, she acknowledged disproportionality affect vulnerable families, put challenges to nation’s food systems, water resources and livelihoods.
She cited the progress made by OMVG in advancing energy infrastructures particularly through the hydropower project in The Gambia River Basin, saying these projects are not just vital for energy security, but promoting low carbon development strategies across the subregion.
She thus called on the four member countries to put all their efforts together towards the full realisation of the project.
Malang Sambou, minister for Natural Resources for Guinea Bissau, who is also the current chairman of OMVG Council of Ministers, while expressing special gratitude to the four heads of state for the political support, acknowledged that the project will also promote solidarity among OMVG member countries.
Minister Sambou noted that the project was delayed and that was the main reason why they prioritised the implementation to promote subregional integration.
He lamented that non-payment of arrears has to some extent hindered some of their activities especially the smooth operation of their secretariate and thus called on member countries to pay their dues.
To this end, he acknowledged the support of partners who support the project since inception namely, African Development Bank, World Bank, European Investment Bank, West African Development Bank among a host of others, further thanking the leaders of the four countries for their high level political commitment.
The event was graced by delegate including cabinet ministers from The Gambia, Senegal and Guinea.
