Press Release

  President Adama Barrow received the Commission on State-Owned Enterprises and the National Water and Electricity Company – NAWEC Board and management on Wednesday at his office. The Commissioners, led by Chairman Ousainou Ngum, presented the results of their assessment of NAWEC’s performance for 2021-2022.  The evaluation included NAWEC’s financial, technical, operational, and management performance during the review period. The Commission determined that NAWEC only achieved 30% and 20% of the targets set for its Key Performance Indicators in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The Executive Secretary, Bai Madi Ceesay, informed the meeting that they used 2017 as a baseline for the Key Performance Indicators, adding that the Chairman offered NAWEC the opportunity to sit and devise strategies to address some of the challenges for better performance. In response to the  report, President Barrow stated that “the work of the SOE Commission is a good starting point for holding institutions accountable”, which is a key part of his administration’s public-sector reform agenda. While acknowledging NAWEC’s challenges, President Barrow emphasised the importance of the institution taking ownership of its performance and not making excuses. Recognising NAWEC’s recent efforts, the President instructed the Commission to implement its recommendations while taking into account the steps NAWEC has taken in recent times. According to the report, “The Commission will reduce the salaries of NAWEC staff by 5% for not meeting the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) targets set for 2021-2022. The SOE Commission will fully implement the next appraisal recommendations considering the support NAWEC is currently receiving from the Government of The Gambia and Partners. The top management is advised to take the challenges seriously, as electricity is crucial to the lives of the people, and the promise to deliver must be upheld.” The officials of NAWEC argued that using 2017, as a baseline for assessment, was not fair because NAWEC did not have audited accounts for that year and faced a difficult transition. The former Managing Director and current Minister for Petroleum and Energy, Nani Juwara, stated that using the figures from 2022 would provide a fairer baseline, considering the current situation and system improvements. He expressed hope that a good foundation has been established for better performance. The current Managing Director, Gallo Saidy, stated that they had accepted the decision and pledged to work harder with his team for better performance. He emphasised that the presence of the senior management “serves as a testimony for everyone to take responsibility” for improving the company’s performance. Finance Minister Seedy Keita, in his remarks, praised the SOE Commission and emphasised that “NAWEC has a significant economic impact on the country”, affecting the cost of living and posing other fiscal risks. “Therefore, everyone must support the transformation,” he added. In February 2023, President Barrow presided over the signing of Performance Contracts with State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to tackle the underperformance of some of the SOEs. After the SOE Bill was passed and the SOE Commission was established, notable Gambians with expertise in various fields were appointed to help the SOEs enhance their service delivery performance.

The Ministry of Finance conducts a two-day (24-25 October 2022) training on performance contracts for SOEs at Kairaba Hotel. The session brought together the SOEs on performance contracts with the government this year (GPA, GNPC, SSHFC, and GPA) and those to be piloted next year (NFSPMC and GIA). This is all geared towards enhancing the performances of State-Owned Enterprises in The Gambia. Participants were taken through the definition of the performance contract, experiences on SOE performance, the importance of legal and regulatory framework, the importance of investment plans and budgeting for technology and equipment, and environmental and social management systems among other things. To ensure effective deliberation and understanding of the modules, participants were grouped according to their sectors to deal with assigned scenarios: reflection on their Boards, reading of their balance sheet, reflection on their investment plan and budget process, and working on their monitoring and evaluation (M&E) templates.

Banjul, The Gambia – 27th June 2024: The State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) Commission is pleased to announce that the Social Security and Housing Corporation (SSHFC) has successfully met some of the performance criteria outlined in their signed Performance Contract with the government. After a comprehensive review and assessment, the SOE Commission has determined that SSHFC’s performance over the contract period is sufficient to qualify for the payment of a one-month bonus to all staff members. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and commitment of SSHFC’s staff and management in striving to meet the performance standards set forth in the agreement. The SOE Commission’s assessment focused on various key performance indicators, including financial management, service delivery, operational efficiency, and compliance with governance standards. The positive evaluation underscores SSHFC’s role in enhancing social security and housing services for Gambians, contributing to the overall economic stability and development of the country. The one-month bonus payment serves as a recognition of the staff’s efforts and a motivation to continue their exemplary performance. The SOE Commission remains committed to ensuring that all state-owned enterprises adhere to their performance contracts and achieve their strategic objectives, fostering transparency, accountability, and improved service delivery across the public sector. State Owned Enterprise (SOE) Commission