Banjul, The Gambia – President Adama Barrow, Chairperson of the Organization for the Development of The Gambia River Basin (OMVG), will host the 11th Ordinary Session of the OMVG Heads of State and Government on Saturday, December 7, 2024. The high-level meeting, to be held in Banjul, underscores The Gambia’s unwavering commitment to fostering regional integration and sustainable socio-economic development in West Africa.

The summit will convene leaders from the four OMVG member states—The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau—who will deliberate on pressing matters central to the organization’s objectives. Central to the agenda are the renewal of OMVG’s leadership and critical management discussions regarding the Sambangalou Dam and the Power Transmission Network (SOGESART).

One of the summit’s anticipated outcomes is the signing of three pivotal conventions that aim to strengthen legal and financial frameworks for the basin’s resources.

These include the Convention on the Legal Status of the Kayanga/Geba Rivers, a river that rises in the northernmost area of Guinea in the Fouta Djallon highlands, the Convention on the Legal Status of the Koliba/Corubal Rivers also known as the Rio Corubal or Tomine, a major tributary of the Geba River, and the Convention on the Terms and Conditions for Financing OMVG Common Works.

OMVG, established in 1978, has been instrumental in advancing regional cooperation in energy, agriculture, and environmental conservation. Key projects under its mandate include hydropower initiatives such as the Sambangalou and Kaléta dams and the interconnection of power grids to expand energy access across member states.

The organization also prioritizes climate change mitigation and the preservation of ecosystems vital to improving the livelihoods of millions in the region. By fostering economic ties and regional stability, OMVG continues to play a transformative role in the socio-economic development of its member nations.

President Barrow has reiterated The Gambia’s dedication to maximizing the potential of the Gambia River Basin, both as a resource for sustainable development and a symbol of regional solidarity.

The one-day summit is expected to reinforce the OMVG’s mission and set the stage for deeper collaboration, as the four nations collectively address shared challenges and unlock new opportunities for their populations.