By Kebba Ansu Manneh
The Voice Newspaper has been reliably informed that the one hundred million dollars ($100 million) Concessionary Agreement for construction of a five star hotel signed over one year ago by the Government of The Gambia and Immoland Sarl is at a standstill.
Sources that spoke with this medium disclosed that so far no civil or construction work start at the site. Observing that, there is no way out for the Company to be able to build this 400 rooms’ capacity hotel in 7 months before the conference will take off.
One of the sources, is an insider at the OIC Secretariat observed that it will be impossible for Immoland Sarl to complete the building of the 5-Star hotel within the stipulated time, disclosing that the last time the CEO of Immoland Sarl came to the country was during the signing ceremony and since then he is yet to return to the country.
“For me, I am not convinced that this company will build this hotel as the conference draws closer. To build a hotel (of such caliber) can take 2-3years or more, so I’m wondering when will they start the construction through to finish, OIC is less than 7 months to the summit,” our source observed.
Another Source, who was one time a hotelier, observed that Gambia government should make a contingency plan in the event should Immoland Sarl Hotel is not finish before the OIC meeting, as this will allowed government to host delegates and heads of states at other hotels in the country.
“I have a concern that government should engage other local hotels in the event that the Immoland Sarl Hotel (failed). I’m afraid if this is not done most delegates will end up booking hotels in Senegal, thus, the country loosing revenues that could have stayed in the country,” another source closed to OIC office told this medium.
It could be recalled that on 12th May, 2021, The Gambia OIC Secretariat organized a signing ceremony of a Concessionary Agreement between the Government of The Gambia and Immoland Sarl for the construction of an internationally branded five-star hotel earmarked for hosting delegates and head of States during the conference.
According to OIC Secretariat the hotel will provide excellent accommodation to the teeming number of delegates, noting that the hotel when completed will have 400 rooms including presidential and royal suites. It also disclosed that Immoland Sarl will finance the project 100% while the government provides the land.
According to the group Chairman, Mr. Abdoulie Thiam, construction is expected to begin by May, 2022, that will last for about 18-20 months.
He disclosed that the investment is based on the spirit of creating and promoting Inter-African Cooperation especially between Senegal and The Gambia, observing that Africans should begin to promote trade and investments among themselves instead of been dependent on foreign sources for financing
. “My company will provide 100% of the financing of this five-star hotel that is expected to be built between 18 to 20 months. It will also be the product of excellent technical and engineering techniques, and [it] will transfer knowledge and capacity to Gambian youths,”Thiam promised at the signing ceremony of the Concessionary Agreement between the Government of The Gambia and Immoland Sarl.
He added that the hotel will significantly contribute to the local economy and create jobs especially for the young people of Senegambia. However, this medium has made several approaches to the Nfally Fadera, Communication Officer at OIC Secretariat to shed light on the development but to no avail.