Honorable Babacar Ndiaye, Chairman of the Energy and Mineral Resources Committee of the National Assembly of Senegal, has said that energy is the foundation on which industrialization, economic growth, and the improvement of the living conditions of the ECOWAS population rest.
He made this statement on Monday, 15th June 2027, while delivering his opening remarks at the ongoing five-day Delocalized Joint Committee Meeting in Dakar.
Representing the President of the National Assembly of Senegal, Ousmane Sonko, the meeting aims to chart strategies for scaling up renewable energy deployment and accelerating rural electrification across the region.
He said, “Energy is much more than an economic sector. It is the foundation upon which industrialization, the competitiveness of our economies, access to basic social services, and the improvement of living conditions for our populations rest.”
He underscored that in the region’s rural areas, “access to electricity determines the ability of farmers to process their produce, of young people to become entrepreneurs, of students to study in better conditions, and of healthcare facilities to provide quality care.”
He emphasized that rural electrification today represents one of the most powerful levers for accelerating the inclusive development of communities.
Despite progress made in recent years, he noted that “millions of West African citizens still live without regular access to electricity.”
This situation, according to him, limits economic opportunities, exacerbates territorial inequalities, and hinders the potential transformation of rural economies.
“Faced with this reality, renewable energies appear as a sustainable, accessible, and suitable solution for the realities of our region,” he stated.
He expressed that due to the abundance of the region’s solar, wind, hydroelectric, and biomass resources, ECOWAS has considerable assets to build a resilient energy model capable of sustainably supporting economic growth and the well-being of its populations.
Fortunately, he said, the results achieved in several member states already demonstrate that this ambition is achievable.
He cited examples: in Senegal, the development of Bokhol; in Cape Verde, sustained investment in renewable energy; and in Ghana, the deployment of mini-grids in rural and island communities. Rural electrification programs have rapidly expanded access to energy in many localities, thus contributing to the reduction of territorial disparities.
“These examples show us that when political will is accompanied by appropriate investments, technological innovations, and strong partnerships, energy becomes a powerful driver of economic and social transformation,” he said.
Behind every electrified village, he added, are more productive farms, more competitive businesses, better-equipped schools, more efficient health centers, and, above all, populations regaining hope for a better future.
He however acknowledged that considerable challenges remain. Mobilizing financing, improving infrastructure, transferring technologies, strengthening human capacities, and making the sector more attractive to private investors all require strengthened regional cooperation.
He indicated: “It is precisely in this context that the role of the ECOWAS Parliament and national parliaments becomes crucial.”
“As representatives of the people, we have a responsibility to promote legislative frameworks that encourage investment in renewable energy, to support public policies aimed at universal access to electricity, and to ensure that the energy transition benefits all segments of the population,” he said.
He challenged regional lawmakers to also promote the harmonization of energy policies at the regional level, support community initiatives, and encourage innovative mechanisms for financing rural electrification.
“The presence of the ECOWAS Parliament in Dakar reflects our shared conviction that the challenges we face call for collective responses, based on solidarity, the sharing of experiences, and a common vision for the future.”
