"A Gambia where every village is a developed city with basic amenities including water, electricity, health centres and schools"

President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh made these remarks at a State House welcoming ceremony for Mr Luke Chang, president of Motech Industries Inco. in the Republic of China (Taiwan).

Motech’s  Mr Chang, whose company is the fifth largest solar power company in the world, came to The Gambia on a fact finding visit as a result of being impressed by President Jammeh’s concern, expressed during the visit to Taiwan in December 2007, to develop solar power as an alternative energy source throughout The Gambia.

"Solar is the cheapest form of energy in the long-term as Allah has blessed us with much sunshine," said the president adding "each year we can electrify 50 villages powered by solar and in the long-run no village will be left without electricity. Horticulture, which depends on irrigation, will be part of the project. Village schools up-country need solar power so that school computers and science lessons will benefit. Health centres too will benefit. Street lighting, starting with Serrekunda-Brikama."

"We want durable systems that can fight against poverty," said the president. "We want a conducive environment to enable all of The Gambia to progress, including villages where women have to spend a lot of energy drawing water when pump generators break down. We want a solar power system to support these village water pumps."

The president then laid out the challenges ahead, concluding that "producing one megawatt of solar-power electricity is our first challenge. Before the end of my current term in three years time, I want 98 per cent of provincial schools to have solar power so that they can link to the internet".

Taiwan’s ambassador, Dr Patrick Chang, accompanied the group to State House and thanked the president for the audience. On being told that the delegation had taken many hours to arrive from Taiwan, the president advised them to train hard to be fit for the journey since they will be expected to visit Gambia more often.

"I have been to Taiwan seven times," remarked the president.

Dr Chang conveyed the Taiwanese delegation’s impression with the President’s commitment to develop The Gambia and its people. He also handed out many gifts from the delegation to the president.

The Motech president expressed his confidence in achieving the President’s vision of solar energy throughout The Gambia, and even further afield across the whole of West Africa with The Gambia as the hub.

The secretary of state for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Ousman Jammeh, expressed his confidence with Motech whose capacity he had seen on his last trip to the Asian-Pacific island state. SoS Jammeh, who is also the secretary general and head of the Civil Service, promised the support of his department for solar power rural electrification, ending "mass production and export of food is our aim and we cannot do so without an adequate water supply system which depends on electricity".

The secretary of state for Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye expressed her excitement at the potential of solar power development and the impact this could have on rural education. "We can have internet linked teaching, and develop distance learning," she said.

The Secretary of State for Communication and Information Technology, Neneh Macdouall-Gaye congratulated the group and thanked them for their enthusiasm and commitment in the country’s development efforts. "Thank you for your steadfast desire to assist in our development," she said.

Finally, on a question from the Daily Observer, the President himself explained that even solar-powered cooking stoves are very much a possibility. See solar diagram on page 26 (back page)

Welcome dinner

Later in the evening, Dr Patrick Chang hosted a dinner at his residence in honour of the visiting delegation, which was attended by the SoS for Energy, Petroleum and Natural Resources. Ousman Jammeh, senior officials and members of the Gambia Investment Promotion and Free Zone Agency, Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Gambia Renewable Energy Centre.

Expressing his delight at the attendance, Dr Chang expressed admiration with the Gambian leadership in improving the livelihood of the people and welcomed the solar project, which will be expanded in time to cover more areas.

"This is the beginning. We hope Mr Chang stays here more to contribute to the benefit of the people. He has a good partnership with Germany," he said.

For his turn, SoS Jammeh said the leaders of the two friendly countries are working towards filtering down the cordiality between them to the people, through private cooperation and investment opportunities.

“This is something we should encourage and it is timely for us to invite you. Energy is vital in any country’s socio-economic development. Electricity is a necessity in every man’s life," he said.

Bai Matarr Drammeh, president of GCCI, recalled that in the past, they used to study books under candlelight, expressing the importance of electricity as crucial to the education of students. Mr Drammeh assured Motech of the Chamber’s support in bringing about a "great difference" in the lives of the people, especially the rural community.