By Lamin Njie
The Government of The Gambia is currently implementing a multi-million dollar project in Banjul. The project includes the construction of roads, drainage and sewage systems as a whole.
The project, which is under the watchful eyes of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure is said to be on track, and when completed in April 2023, would give a new face-lift to Banjul in terms of beautifying the city and provide a healthy environment for the thousands of residents as well.
The Banjul project is focusing on rehabilitating all the vital infrastructures of the city.
In general, most Banjulians have expressed their satisfaction with the progress of work, explaining that the project is one of a kind from independence to date, and thanked the government for it.
This project is important to the government, simply because Banjul is the capital city, the main financial and commercial centre of the country, and the seat of the legislative, judiciary, and executive branches of government; so Banjul is not only the face of the country but also its nerve centre.
The conditions of the roads, drainage, and sewage system of Banjul was deplorable. Making matters worse, many of the original settlers of the city emigrated to the Kombos, leaving behind properties in a perpetual state of disrepair.
The multiple ownership of such properties, by a generation from mainly polygamous families, prevented any possibility for further development, unless under rare circumstances when a property is sold.
The present government was concerned, and it came out with a completely different policy. The idea was to fix quickly the city’s infrastructure, without much of the usual fanfare, the endless donor canvassing, or bureaucratic dilly-dallying. This was of course going to be controversial, but Government decided to let the results and impact of the project speak for itself.
