By: Kebba AF Touray
The Finance Minister, Seedy Keita, said Friday, 8th December 2023, at the National Assembly in Banjul that the African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved US$13.0 Million for The Gambia.
This amount is approximately Eight Hundred and Six Million Dalasi.
“The African Development Bank has approved the financing of the procurement of a new green ferry as part of the Banjul Port 4th Expansion Project at a tune of about US$13.0 million,” he added.
He said the ferry they intend to purchase is about the size of Kunta Kinteh, adding this would greatly improve the ferry crossing times in Banjul/Barra.
He explained: “Green ferry would contribute to the SDGs on carbon emissions reduction and also contribute towards the Green Recovery Focused National Development Plan. The country’s huge infrastructure deficit is being addressed. Currently, 350km road construction contracts have been awarded, hence, the increased budgetary allocation to this sector.”
He reported to the legislature that as part of preparations for the hosting of the OIC Heads of State Summit scheduled to take place in The Gambia in May 2024, the construction of a new VVIP Lounge and the rehabilitation of the Terminal Building at the airport were completed.
These improvements, he said, will enhance operational capacity at the Banjul International Airport, in line with Government’s strategic objective to improve air transport facilities and infrastructure.
He stated that the Rehabilitation of Roads, Sewage and Drainage systems in Banjul is in its final stage of implementation.
“The Project seeks to rehabilitate the pump house at Bund Road and install new pumps to evacuate storm water during the rainy season. Currently, 98 percent of the road’s components in the initial scope and 87 percent of those in the additional works have been completed as at end of September 2023,” he reported.
He stated that as part of the OIC Infrastructure Development Projects for the hosting of the upcoming OIC Heads of States Summit in The Gambia, the construction of 50km Urban Roads which requires upgrading of 17 roads in the urban network is currently ongoing.
He said the project intends to decongest urban traffic with safe, attractive and vibrant links leading to efficient traffic management during the summit and beyond.
He averred: “The Government has also committed funds for the construction of 86km Niumi – Hakalang and other secondary roads to support the country’s transport sector”.
The purpose of the project as indicated by the Minister is to upgrade the existing gravel road and tracks in Niumi- Hakalang to a modern standard road with a bituminous sealed carriageway and shoulders, appropriate drainage structures, modern road furniture and safety facilities.
The Government, he told lawmakers, has also embarked on an exercise to reform the aviation sector in the country to make it more efficient and viable.
He said this involves the separation of regulatory and service provision functions in the industry in line with international standards and recommended practices.
Keita said the decoupling process is ongoing and will culminate in the establishment of a new Airport Company and a Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) which will focus only on regulatory oversight.
“In addition, the Government plans to enter into a Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the operations and management of the Banjul International Airport. It is envisaged that such reforms will enhance the performance of the aviation industry and its contributions to the development of the country”, he said.
On the Petroleum and Energy Ministry, he lamented that despite the sector has been severely hit by the spillover effects of the Russia-Ukraine war, with spikes in fuel prices, depreciation of the Dalasi, and shortage of foreign currency creating challenges in the sector, the government, with support from development partners, has helped promote the development and efficiency of the energy sector.
Some of these promotions in the sector, he highlighted, include the new 30MW Dual Fuel Power Project at Kotu and the 23MWp solar plant in Jambur which are in advanced stage. Moreover, a 150MWp Regional Solar Power Park at Soma-Karantaba is going through advanced procurement stage.
He added that there are ongoing electricity access projects covering over 800 communities with the aim of meeting universal access by the end of 2025.
He said the upgrading of NAWEC’s transmission and distribution networks from 33KV to 225KV and the Control Centre interventions are all geared towards modernizing the country’s electricity infrastructure and to enhance the quality of electricity supplies.
“The Water and Sanitation Networks Rehabilitation Project of US$22.5 million, which aimed to minimize current water shortages, is expected to be completed by 2025. The Ministry of Energy and Petroleum, through its Geology Department, has made substantial efforts in the management of mineral resources for wealth generation,” he said.
He stated that additional flagships will be the formulation of a Minerals and Mining Policy for the establishment of a Mining Cadastre System for The Gambia in 2024.
