“The Gambia Ports Authority, as the regulator in the concession agreement, is not directly involved in cargo handling operations,” Sillah said.
He explained that all cargo operations, including rent charges, fall under the concessionaire’s responsibility. However, controls for rent waivers were introduced before the concession agreement took effect. In October 2023, the GPA Board approved a new rent waiver policy, establishing a three‑member senior management advisory committee to review applications and make recommendations to the managing director.
Sillah reported notable improvements since the concession agreement with Albaraka became effective on 14 February 2025. Vessel turnaround time, he said, had dropped dramatically — from 16 days and 15 hours in 2024 to just eight days and 20 hours in 2026.
The minister attributed the gains to better coordination among operational units, including berth and yard planning, cargo handling, and communication processing. He highlighted the commissioning of a new 15,000‑square‑metre container terminal with capacity for 1,000 TEUs, alongside rehabilitation works and the inland container depot, which together have eased congestion at the port.
To ensure compliance, Sillah said the government and GPA had established several layers of monitoring, including a dedicated evaluation unit and inter‑ministerial committees.
