The minister disclosed that the project is designed to link communities across the country, improve access to essential services, and stimulate economic growth by easing the movement of people, goods, and services.
He explained that the study is intended to identify roads across the country that are in a dilapidated condition, with the aim of ensuring their reconstruction. The government’s objective, he added, is to see that all major roads nationwide are built to modern standards.
“This initiative will not only connect communities but also enhance trade, commerce, and livelihoods,” Minister Sillah said in an exclusive interview over the weekend.
When constructed, he said, the 900 kilometres of road is expected to greatly enhance mobility, stimulate economic growth, and foster social cohesion by bridging the divide between urban and rural communities.“We are determined to ensure that every Gambian community is connected, and that no one is left behind,” Minister Sillah told our reporter.
The Minister, accompanied by officials from the National Roads Authority (NRA) and engineers, is set to embark on a nationwide tour today in order to inspect ongoing road projects. The tour aims to assess progress, identify challenges, and ensure that issues are swiftly addressed.
Sillah emphasised that road construction remains one of the top priorities of President Adama Barrow’s administration. He noted that before the current government came into office, the road sector had been “almost neglected,” leaving many rural communities isolated and difficult to reach. “Because this government cares about the people, we have made road development a central part of our agenda,” he added.
Since 2017, he said, billions of dalasis have been invested in Gambia’s infrastructure. He emphasised that President Adama Barrow has taken infrastructure development very seriously, with the aim of ensuring that the country is fully connected.
Minister Sillah highlighted several flagship projects, including the Upper River Region (URR) roads and bridges, which alone amount to more than 80 million US dollars. He also cited the 50 kilometre Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) road project, valued in the billions of dalasis, as well as the Bertil Harding Highway, which represents millions of dollars in investment.
“In addition, the government has undertaken the construction of 350 kilometres of road networks, also worth billions of dalasis, alongside rehabilitation projects that have delivered new roads in the Kanifing Municipality and the West Coast Region.” These initiatives, he noted, have cost hundreds of millions of dalasis.
“Substantial resources have been channelled into road projects, principally to ensure that the country is connected,” Minister Sillah said. “The aim is to enhance the movement of people, facilitate the transport of produce from farms to markets, and strengthen links between rural communities and urban centres,” he postulated.
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