By Abdelkarim Jaiteh
The Gambia will soon benefit from the OMVG project as construction of the sites will be completed by June next year, this was the promised made to the ministers by the contractors during a visit at the OMVG Project site in Jarra Soma and other substations in the West Coast Region of Brikama , Kanfenda and Kanilai.
The ministers of Energy and environment, Fafa Sanyang and Lamin Dibba on Friday made a join visit to the project substations where they had a frank discussion with the contractors to gauge the level of the work and some of the challenges confronting the project in this trying time of global pandemic.
The main mission of The Gambia River Development Organisation (OMVG) is the rational and harmonious exploitation of the common resources of The Gambia, Kayanga-Geba and Koliba-Corubal river basins. To do this, it must achieve food self-sufficiency, reduce the vulnerability of member states’ economies to climate hazards and preserve the balance of ecosystems in the sub-region and more particularly in the watersheds of the three rivers.
The project also affects government structures and stakeholders in the water, energy, agriculture, livestock, public works and environmental sectors at the four levels.
Lamin Dibba is the minister of forestry and environment who also doubles as the overseer of the project. He revealed that about seven million dalasi are located as a compensation scheme for the affected communities and individuals as a result of the implementation of the project.
From Soma the delegation proceeded to the border to inspect the site where the electric poles will be constructed that will connect the Gambia, Cassamace and other member states.
Pierre-Marie Vince is the project manager of EIFFAGE, a company contracted for the project. Mr Vince who has been working in Africa for forty years on similar projects, explains the level of the work at the site during and they are working hard to ensure they meet the targeted dateline by June next year.
Rohey John Manjang, the governor of Lower River Region who also joined the delegation expressed delight and appealed to the citizens to exercise patience as the country’s energy problem will soon be addressed.
