Transport Union President Raises Concern Over Devastating Traffic Jams

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Omar Ceesay, GTU president

Within KM

By Nelson Manneh

The president of the Gambia Transport Union Omar Ceesay, on Thursday August 4th 2022 raised concerns over the devastating traffic jams within the Kanifing Municipality.

The transport union president said last weekend’s downpour has caused a lot of breakdown for many commercial vehicles.

“Looking at our roads, especially the trans-Gambia highway, the stretch from Westfield to Abuko is poorly constructed because there are no proper drainage systems attached. This is causing lot of traffic jams and breakdown of vehicles,” he said.

Mr. Ceesay said when it comes to road construction, the authority should always involve the transport union as the main users of these roads. He also called on the Gambia Police Force to help ensure that traffic flows freely and smoothly. He said sometimes diplomats and top government officers also cause traffic jams.

“Recently, we have seen the police clearing the road one hour before the departure of a diplomat which caused heavy traffic obstruction. The police should properly communicate to the protocols of these diplomats in order to properly manage the traffic,” he said.

Ceesay said the security protection of diplomats especially the president, is a concern for every citizen but said it needs proper coordination. He said the trans-Gambia highway particularly from Westfield to Tabakoto, needs to be properly managed in order to ease the movement of goods and services within the municipality.

Ceesay urged drivers to safely drive their vehicles whenever it rains heavily; that the Department of Water Resources has predicted that the 2022 rainfall will be above normal which is a concern.

“Drive safely, the life you save may be your own,” he said.