By Kebba AF Touray
The Board of the National Road Authority (NRA) has disclosed to the National Assembly Select Committee on Public Enterprise (PEC), that GRA spent a total of two hundred and twenty million, nine hundred and seventy-nine thousand, seven hundred and ten dalasi (D220, 979, 710) 0n road maintenance as at 31st December 2019.
The board made this disclosure on Thursday 28th January 2021, when it appeared before the select committee in Banjul for the presentation of its activity reports and financial statements for the years 2018 and 2019.
“Total none current assets as at 31st December increased to D19,594, 332 from D8, 656, 548 as at 31st December 2018. Total Current Assets as at 31st December 2019, stood at D159, 151, 950 with a decline to D133, 824, 623 as at 31st December 2018,” the board disclosed.
The Board also indicated the total assets as at 31st December 2019 is D178, 746, 282, with a slight decrease to D142, 481, 171. The board said the total accumulated fund and reserves as at 31st December 2019 stood at D153, 333, 211, while as at 31st December 2018 the total accumulated fund and reserves stood at D101, 891, 277.
“Total accumulated fund and liabilities stands at D178, 746,282 and D142, 481,171 respectively during the year under review, whereas total income for the year under review stands at D354,779,470 and D253,817,495”, said NRA Board.
The board informed PEC that the government should increase the road maintenance program to save the nation’s future costs on road maintenance. The board also wants government to strengthen the capacity of NRA in terms of preparing a robust pipeline of bankable projects and programs, where all risks and potential returns are evident for all the parties involved.
“There is an urgent need to look for alternative sources of funding different from external resources. Therefore, it is being recommended for the government to promote private sector participation in road infrastructural development, which is widely seen as an approach to lift efficiency in operations, maintenance and long term asset lifetime cycle management,” the board recommended.
