The 11th Ordinary Session of the OMVG Conference of Heads of State and Government was held on Saturday in the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre in Bijilo, Republic of the Gambia.
A sub-regional organisation called the Organisation for the Development of the Gambia River Basin (OMVG) is tasked with carrying out integrated development initiatives throughout the area, with a special emphasis on managing the shared resources of the Koliba-Corubal, Kayanga-Geba, and Gambia rivers. There are a lot of energy production options in these river basins.
The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal are the four nations involved in the OMVG project. It was started in order to address the region’s energy shortage, excessive reliance on imported oil, and the damage that using hydrocarbons for energy generation causes to the environment.
The project’s objectives are to supply the four West African nations with inexpensive, renewable energy, enhance the quality of life for the local populace, encourage sub-regional integration, and stimulate economic growth. In addition, the effort seeks to improve energy independence, protect the environment, and lower oil use in thermal power plants.
The late Presidents Leopold Sédar Senghor, Dawda Kairaba Jawara, Ahmed Sékou Touré, and Nino Vieira were honoured by President Adama Barrow during his speech for their visionary leadership in developing sub-regional cooperation and integration, which united the OMVG family.
The present presidents of Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal were also thanked by President Barrow for their support of the “long-overdue” summit.
We have the chance to examine the OMVG’s operations since the Extraordinary Summit on January 29, 2016, during this meeting.
Given that the four Member Countries’ electrical interconnection line is 99% complete, this is the ideal time to hold the Summit. Furthermore, the Sambangalou hydroelectric dam’s construction is well underway. He expressed his profound appreciation to the OMVG Secretariat and the whole technical staff for their tireless efforts in making the electrical hookup project a reality.
The African Development Bank, the energy project’s primary donor, and other partners were also thanked by the Gambian leader for their crucial assistance with the Integrated Development Master Plan (IDMP) and the OMVG Energy Project.
In order to ensure the prompt execution of all scheduled OMVG projects, President Barrow asked the partners to think about stepping up their financial and technical assistance.
“It is important to remember that our organization’s upper organs do not convene on a regular basis, despite our encouraging accomplishments. Among other potential repercussions, this situation may make it more difficult for the OMVG to operate, particularly with reference to the creation of the Sambangalou Energy and Transport Network Management Company (SOGESART). In my capacity as the Council of the Heads of State’s departing chairman, I must call attention to the enormous amount of arrears that Member Countries own. Despite our clear economic difficulties, we need to show greater dedication to the OMVG. To allow it to fail is a betrayal of the organization’s progress. Most importantly, its achievement will always improve our economic results. Therefore, I implore my colleagues to ensure the survival of this special sub-regional body by making our contributions on schedule,” President Barrow stated.
Additionally, the president of Gambia urged the OMVG Secretariat to look for creative methods to increase donor funding for its projects. He called on the Secretariat to make the most of the organization’s existing funds, acknowledging the financial difficulties member nations face.
“I hope that the relevant bodies of the Organisation will implement the resolutions adopted in this meeting and that the statutory meetings will be held on time going forward,” he stated.
Among other dignitaries, the prime ministers of Guinea-Bissau and Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, attended the occasion.
