By Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly has approved the amendment framework agreement on the establishment of the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Speaking before the lawmakers, Honorable Fafa Sanyang, Minister of Petroleum and Energy said: “ISA is conceived as solar coalition resourceful country located on the tropics of cancer and Capricorn. The alliance aimed at contributing to the implementation of climate agreement and brings together members states in providing collective response to the main common challenges and massive development of energy in terms of technology, finance and capacity.”
He explained that since The Gambia has been participating fully in all the ISA activities, during ISA meeting held in New Delhi India from the 5th October 2018, member countries adopted the proposal made by India and amendment to the framework agreement on the establishment of the solar alliance. This is to expand the scope of membership of states of the United Nations, while the amendment came into effect in July 2020 after the necessary ratification and approval and acceptance were obtained from member countries..
According to the Honorable Minister, previously ISA membership was limited to solar resource reach US member states and located between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn on which amendment was done in article (7) of the framework agreement while the initial clause article.
Sulayman Saho, member for central Badibu, said that the objective of the agreement is well spelt out and we believe Gambia being part of such agreement will benefit a lot.
“However, many agreements came before us and we all have the spirit that, it will be in our interest along the line instead of us benefiting in those agreements it gone opposite. We know that solar is what the world is in for and The Gambia is not an exceptional in ensuring to have renewable energy.”
More so, he pointed that “we all know that the generators are not environmentally friendly they cause pollution and it is hazardous to our health but is the Minister and the team did thorough research to see that the interest of the country will never be compromised in the agreement,” he said.
