ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project connects half‑million West Africans to power

According to the Economic Community of West African States, the ECOWAS-REAP initiative has delivered power to roughly 500,000 residents in 490 communities located within Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and The Gambia. During the tenth and concluding Steering Committee session, which began on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeria, officials revealed this progress while assessing the program's completion.

The initiative, financed with $225 million from the World Bank, aims to expand power supply to underserved communities as part of ECOWAS’s broader energy‑integration agenda and the Vision 2050 development framework. Arkadius Koumoin, who serves as the ECOWAS Commission's Director of Energy and Mines and chairs the committee, pointed out the success despite obstacles like the coronavirus outbreak and institutional instability.

Background

ECOWAS‑REAP was launched to address chronic electricity deficits in the three participating countries. The project’s design focuses on connecting households rather than merely completing infrastructure works, a point stressed by Koumoin, who argued that success should be measured by the number of homes actually receiving power. Representatives from each nation’s energy sector attended the Abuja session: Gallo Saidy, Managing Director of The Gambia’s National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC); Pedro Jeus de Oliveira, the Guinean‑Bissau Ministry’s energy delegate; and Oussouby Mary dit Ousmane Diarra, Mali’s National Director of Energy.

All three officials reaffirmed their commitment to finalising outstanding activities. However, Mali formally requested an extension to complete its remaining work, citing gaps that need to be addressed before the project can be closed responsibly.

Why it matters

The connection of nearly half a million residents to electricity is expected to improve living standards, support small‑business development and enhance public services in the three countries. By extending the grid to remote localities, the programme contributes to regional energy integration, a key objective of ECOWAS Vision 2050, which seeks to foster economic growth and social development across West Africa.

Stakeholders noted that reliable power can reduce reliance on costly diesel generators, lower household energy expenses and enable better health‑care and education outcomes. The World Bank’s involvement underscores the international community’s interest in supporting sustainable infrastructure that yields tangible benefits for citizens.

What happens next

The final Steering Committee meeting is set to determine the concrete actions required for the responsible closure of ECOWAS‑REAP. Participants will discuss the outstanding tasks identified by each country, including Mali’s request for an extension, and agree on measures to ensure that the newly connected households continue to receive reliable electricity. The outcomes of the meeting will shape the final report to the World Bank and inform future regional energy initiatives.