President Adama Barrow of the Gambia on Saturday launched infrastructural works in the country’s capital Banjul, remarking that the event marked another milestone towards the realization of his Government’s development agenda, as stated in the National Development Plan 2018-2021.
The US$35.6 project involves rehabilitation and construction of the road network and sewage system for the Island city of Banjul.
“We have prioritized the development of road infrastructures to accelerate the social and economic development of The Gambia,” said the president, noting that his government’s commitment is to provide the City of Banjul with the best possible infrastructures to make it more habitable.
According to him, it is a commitment in fulfillment of Goals 9 and 11 of the Sustainable Development Goals, while Goal 9 specifies the need to “build resilient infrastructures, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovations, while Goal 11 seeks to make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.”
President Barrow pointed out that Banjul has been facing challenges related to flooding and leakage of sanitary waste, coupled with the loss of the structural integrity of its roads due to the high underground water table.
“We are aware of the importance of durable infrastructures for the socio-economic development of the country. Thus, given the urgency of the project, government has committed US$35.6 million for its implementation. The project components comprise roads, sewage and drainage systems and implementation will commence this year,” he stated.
“Economically, the project will encourage more investments in infrastructure development, thereby creating more employment for Gambians and improving their incomes. Without doubt, the implementation phase will create employment opportunities for many Gambians, thus improving their livelihoods. All these will eventually contribute to poverty reduction,” he pointed out.
