(JollofNews) – Gambia’s newly appointed minister of Petroleum and Energy, Fafa Sanyang, Thursday took his oath of office and secrecy at State House, Banjul.
Mr Sanyang who previously served as commissioner of Petroleum, expressed gratitude to President Adama Barrow for approval of his appointment.
He acknowledged that it is a huge responsibility and he will relying on Mr Barrow and his colleagues in cabinet to achieve the stated goals of the government to have reliable and affordable energy supply.
He noted the linkage between the energy sector and sustainability of socio-economic development programmes.
Mr Sanyang said he is aware of the enormous challenges facing the country’s electricity and water company, NAWEC, and promised to put in all his efforts to engage for the betterment of the Gambia.
In his remarks, President Barrow congratulated Mr Sanyang and noted that despite the fact that he was the last cabinet minister to be appointed, it is because he wanted the best person for the job.
He said Mr Sanyang had been widely recommended for his expertise and professionalism thus the responsibility has been bestowed upon him.
President Barrow urged the Petroleum and Energy Minister and his team to work effectively to improve the performance of the energy sector in the shortest possible time.
Petroleum is a curse, it brings out the worst in people. Ask our cousins in Ghana and Nigeria. All that hydrocarbon ruined their country and their minds. Gambia beware all that glitter is not gold.
They won’t care a heck. They will slowly ruined the West Coast as basically, there are no safe offshore drilling technologies. Quite right that; ‘petroleum is a curse’, especially to a small country like the Gambia who has all the means to do better for her people without the greasy goo.
The Sultan of Brunei sits on a toilet made of solid gold; Meanwhile President Barrow jumps up and down when he gets a loan for 25 million. I am told that some governors in Nigeria have cash in cardboard boxes in bedrooms stacked up to the ceiling’ others have “cash heavy” bank accounts in London there without question. Meanwhile children starve or live parentless on the streets.
Britain was able to underpin its democracy and welfare/health system from North sea oil and gas, for the last 30 years/ but now faces 30 years of austerity.
Oil and gas are not the problem/WE know what the problem is/