Fafa Sanyang

Fafa Sanyang
FGS
Minister of Energy and Petroleum
In office
10 April 2017 – 4 May 2022
PresidentAdama Barrow
Succeeded byAbdoulie Jobe
Personal details
NationalityGambian
Alma materUniversity of Sierra Leone
Dalhousie University
University of Leeds

Fafa Sanyang is a Gambian politician and former civil servant who served as Minister of Energy and Petroleum in President Adama Barrow's cabinet from 2017 until a reshuffle in 2022.

Early life and education

Sanyang was born in Kwinella[1] and studied a bachelor's degree in geology at the University of Sierra Leone in 1989. He went on to obtain a master's degree in marine management from Dalhousie University, Canada, in 1997 and a further master's degree in engineering geology from Leeds University in the United Kingdom. He is a fellow of the Geological Society of London and a member of the Geological Society of Africa.[2]

Political and professional career

Sanyang was Director of the Geological Department of the Ministry of Petroleum from 1993 to 2006. He then became Commissioner for Petroleum in the ministry in 2006. He then became Permanent Secretary in the ministry in 2015.[2] He was detained on 18 June 2016, along with three other senior civil servants.[1] He was later released on bail but shortly into the bail was re-arrested by the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) and held in their custody. As he was not in court when the trial commenced on 28 September, it was suspended until 6 October so that he could be in court.[3]

Sanyang was appointed as Minister of Energy and Petroleum on 10 April 2017.[4] In late April, Sanyang oversaw the signing of a deal between the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) and the Sino-hydro Corporation Company worth $165 million.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b "NIA Detain 4 Senior Gambian Officials". Kairo News. 19 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Fafa Sanya". Energy Corporate Africa. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  3. ^ "Fafa Sanyang under NIA custody: GNPC officials case". The Point. 29 September 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  4. ^ "Fafa Sanyang Is New Energy Minister". The Daily Observer. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.[permanent dead link‍]
  5. ^ "GAMBIA: Nawec signed a $165 million dollars deal with a Chinese company". Gambiano. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2017.