The Minister for Fisheries and Water Resources, Musa Drammeh, has announced upcoming regulations aimed at controlling borehole drilling across The Gambia in a bid to protect public health and ensure the safety of drinking water.
Speaking during a town hall-style ministerial conference at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center on Friday, Minister Drammeh expressed deep concern over the rising number of unregulated boreholes being drilled across the country.
“There’s a lot of borehole drilling going around the country with no regard [for] whether the water is fit for consumption or not,” Drammeh said, noting the potential health risks posed by contaminated water sources.
To tackle the issue, the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources plans to introduce a national regulatory framework. Under the new system, all borehole drilling activities will need to be registered with the Department of Water Resources. Additionally, water samples from each borehole will be required for quality testing to determine whether the water is safe for human use.
The move marks a major step toward addressing concerns over water safety, particularly in areas where access to piped or treated water remains limited.
Minister Drammeh emphasised that his ministry is committed to ensuring hygiene standards are upheld in borehole operations and called on the public to cooperate with the new measures. “This is about protecting lives and promoting public health,” he added.
The initiative reflects the government’s broader commitment to expanding access to clean drinking water and improving water management systems nationwide. With these new regulations, authorities hope to curb the health risks associated with unsafe water sources while encouraging more responsible drilling practices.
No timeline has been provided yet for when the new regulatory system will take effect, but the ministry has indicated that consultations and enforcement planning are already underway.
