Ebrima Sillah was speaking on Monday in Kiang West as he inspected the new road in the area, which is almost near completion. However, the visit forms part of his ongoing nationwide site visit to road infrastructural projects in the country.
Accompanied by Matarr Ceesay, permanent secretary at the same Ministry, Ousman Sanyang, Managing Director of National Roads Authority (NRA) and staff from the Ministry of Works, the site visit is basically to gather first-hand information and assess progresses of construction works.
Minister Sillah acknowledged that this landmark road connects various communities, major health facilities as well as riverine settlements engage in fishing activities.
"The construction of this road would definitely enhance livelihood and economic activities in Kiang West," he said.
Minister Sillah recalled that Kiang West initially used to be a high honey producing region, saying “so it was always very difficult for people to access markets.”
Now with the construction of this road, he assured that will be completely diminish, praying that by second quarter of this year, probably April or May, the President of the Republic, Adama Barrow will inaugurate this Kiang West Road including other roads in the country.
He described the move as a momentous occasion for them as a Ministry and all their critical partners, who presided over the conceptualisation of this project in terms of design, funding and also implementation.
Now that they are at the very tail end, Works Minister thanked all the stakeholders and well-wishers both in government and in the Diaspora for their continuous support and by extension, President Adama Barrow for his foresight and for “insisting on pushing the agenda for road infrastructure” projects across the country.
This, he said, has open up the Gambia especially many of those rural communities that have never had road before and after independence.
"It is surprising that The Gambia will celebrate its 60th independence anniversary on February 18th, 2025 and yet we have large number of communities’ that have never seen this kind of services. So that is why the President is very focus on infrastructural development including roads, electricity, water and also other infrastructural projects."
This, Minister Sillah believes, is what will bring about overall economic development of this country.
Minster Sillah noted that alongside road infrastructural works, there are huge focus on agriculture as right now they have up to four to five different commercial investors that are hugely investing the sector, expressing optimism that in the next two to three years, the country will be fully self-sufficient in rice production with home-grown rice.
Also speaking, Matarr Ceesay, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, explained that the project, which is in its initial phase, started from Karantaba to Sankandi, reminding that alongside other roads in the South and North Bank and then the Hakalang were all part of the programme in which they looked at utilising local Gambia government funds to expand their network.
At the level of the Ministry, he explained that in trying to connect to some of these communities in view of the way they are spread out, there are some challenges that they have to deal with.
He made referenced to the deplorable nature of the road back then when they visited the area to lay the foundation and now, pointing out that it was very challenging to actually navigate from the start to the finish.
He expressed delight that they have a Gambian contractor, Gai Construction, who he commended for constructing this quality of road.
"As we are coming one could see driving on this road is very smooth."
Ousman Sanyang, managing director of National Roads Authority, talked about ongoing works in the Fonis, which is under Lot 4 of the EPC Project, a government funded projects, further stating that they are doing very well in terms of work.
The construction of these 22.53 kilometres of roads, he said, is progressing steadily, adding that most of the works require civil works, which is the construction of the culverts, to ensure flow of water especially during the rainy season.
Commenting on the life span of the road, MD Sanyang assured that this road could serve much more-longer time provided there is regular maintenance, saying the life span of roads is dependent on its maintenance.
He said they expect such maintenance intervention to come in during it is projected to serve, adding that as far it has maintenance measures, the road could have a longer life span.
Ben Johnson, resident engineer, King West Project, disclosed that the project was divided into two phases; the first phase covers 39 km Sankandi to Karanta, while Phase 2, which is the construction of 42 KM new roads extends from Kiang Kemoto to Misira Tenda on the left side.
He said works are at an advanced stage as they already covered about 36 km, while working hard to complete the remaining part by end of February.
Meanwhile, phase one is almost complete and construction on phase 2 is at an advanced stage.
The engineer assured the quality of the road and that it will last for at least a period of 15 years minimum.
Abdou Gaye, Gai Construction, who is also project manager for the Kiang Road Project, spoke on their resolve to complete the project by April this year, saying as at now phase is almost done.
He said currently they’re working on phase two, further assuring they would ensure supply of materials needed for the project particularly basalt.
