ECOWAS Electricity Project Extends Power Access to Nearly 500,000 People in West Africa

A regional electricity project coordinated by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expanded access to electricity for nearly 500,000 people across The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Mali. The ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS-REAP) has connected 490 localities over six years, with US$225 million in funding.  The project aims to improve electricity access and support development in communities that need reliable power. On 2 November 2026, ECOWAS opened the project’s final Steering Committee meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, to review its progress and discuss how to protect the results. According to the ECOWAS announcement, the initiative also supports the regional body’s wider development goals under ECOWAS Vision 2050.

The project’s reported achievements show the importance of regional investment in essential infrastructure. In The Gambia, approximately 43,090 households received electricity connections across 400 localities, benefiting around 344,720 people. Guinea-Bissau recorded more than 20,788 household connections across 90 localities, reaching approximately 145,000 people. Access to electricity can improve daily life, support public services and create better conditions for small businesses and local economic activity. However, implementation has faced difficulties in Mali. The country’s National Director of Energy, Oussouby Mary dit Ousmane Diarra, cited security and contractual challenges and requested an extension of at least 30 months.

The project is scheduled to close on 31 December 2026, but its impact will depend on the sustainability of the infrastructure and services delivered. Electricity connections must remain functional, while national utilities need the resources and capacity to maintain the systems. ECOWAS Director of Energy and Mines, Arkadius Koumoin, stressed that success should be measured by households receiving electricity and improvements in their living conditions, not simply by the infrastructure constructed. The West Africa News Agency’s coverage of the project also draws attention to the project’s progress and the need to address outstanding work before closure. This is an important lesson for regional development programmes across Africa: cooperation can mobilise funding and deliver infrastructure, but long-term planning and maintenance are necessary to protect those gains.