GPA financial performance under review has been satisfactory, says DMD Jobarteh

“Despite the performance of the productive base of our economy, economic shocks including increasing fuel prices, the fierce inter-port competition within the sub-region and the trends in the global trading environment, the authority’s overall financial position continues to be sound and healthy,” he told deputies.

Deputy Director Jobarteh was speaking on Tuesday before the PAC/PEC of the National Assembly during the debate on the GPA’s financial and activity report for 2013.

The PAC/PEC of the National Assembly then adopted the report.

He said the port of Banjul serves as an entry and exit point for almost 80 per cent of the country’s imports and export trade.

In responding to the needs of their customers, the GPA deputy MD informed PAC/PEC that the port had been investing in resources, both human and capital as evidenced by both long and short-term courses, local and overseas courses, especially at the lower cadre, and also the procurement of cargo handling equipment and its associated spare-parts.

“In our drive to meet the targets of the authority’s development objectives, the Gambia Ports Authority will continue to endeavour to adhere to the recommendations of the Port Master Plan update (2008),” he said.

In order to address some of the development challenges of the port, he added, the authority has a series of upgrading and rehabilitation projects.

The objective was to improve the ports operational standards, customer service delivery and to cater for the present and anticipated increase in cargo throughput and vessels in the years ahead, he said.

Pursuant to improving the ports operations and throughput capacity, attracting new shipping lines and improving ships turnaround time, the port also continues to upgrade its facilities and infrastructure and the procurement of cargo handling equipment, he stated.

Mr Jobarteh further informed the Assembly’s joint committees session that the financial performance of the GPA in the year under review has been satisfactory.

“Despite the performance of the productive base of our economy, economic shocks including increasing fuel prices, the fierce inter-port competition within the sub-region and the trends in the global trading environment, the Authority’s overall financial position continues to be sound and healthy.”

Meanwhile, the report of the Gambia National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) was also adopted on the same day by the PAC/PEC.

Momodou O.S. Badjie, Managing Director of GNPC, thanked the Assembly joint committees session for taking their time and going through the whole report and adopting it.

Hon. Sainey Mbye, member for Upper Saloum, commended the GNPC for their efforts, adding that looking at their stations countrywide they have stations in many areas in the country except in the northern side of CRR.