By Binta Jaiteh
Ahmed Talib Bensuda, Mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council, on Thursday, launched the 3 million euro grant for the Kanifing Environmental Transformation Program Project ( KETP).
This is meant to use a sustainable focus on new integrated waste management approaches to drive environmental, social, and economic transformation in Kanifing.
Speaking during the launching of the project, Mayor Talib described the day as another special day and landmark event in the history of KMC.
He said the council has 10,000 waste bins that will be distributed into the communities to further accelerate the realization of its waste management strategies, goals, and target. These 10,000 bins which is the first phase 1 bin per household initiative will be distributed to 25% of the 35,000 communal households and 500 business operators within the municipality.
He said an additional 25,000 bins are targeted to complete their waste bin initiative which is part of their wider scheme of allocating 1 bin to each compound with the overall objective of providing all household residents of Kanifing Municipality with waste bins. This is in line with achieving the council’s vision of creating a zero waste municipality of the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“I take this opportunity to thank the European Union through its Ambassador in the Gambia for their valuable support in funding the Kanifing Environmental Transformation Program (KETP) project with a grant of 3 million euros,” he added.
The Mayor disclosed that the project is one of their flagship initiatives for the environmental, social, and economic transformation of the Municipality. He, therefore, extended the council’s sincere appreciation to the implementing partners, Peterborough City Council in the UK and its Economic Development Agency, opportunity Peterborough for their support.
‘’KETP aims to use a sustainable focus on new integrated waste management approaches in the Municipality from pollution, health and environment challenges to become a sustainable economic opportunity that strengthens urban governance, inclusive delivery, and sustainable resource management,” he explained.
He pointed out that, KMC as an institution has transformed into an effective service-driven institution, as a result, the landscape of the Kanifing Municipality is also transforming, in 2017 before we came into office the council budget was D117 million. In 2022 we will reach a milestone of D3 million representing a 300% increase and in 2023 we have budgeted… This means KMC can provide four times the level of service to its residents, as before we assumed office.
Among other projects the municipal council is working on, he named the Kanifing Municipal Market (KMM) which will develop 7 new markets over 5 years with over 1000 new vendor spaces that will more than double the current market capacity of KM, the Kanifing Municipality Road Network Project (KMRNP) this will build over 38KM of roads connecting every ward in the municipality over the next 5 years, Solid Waste Processing Plant this will bring about the first municipal affordable housing company targeting the development of 8000 affordable homes for young families and the less-privilege families within the municipality.
“The council under my leadership has a defined road map and we will work diligently and tirelessly to implement and deliver this action plan to change and transform the landscape of KMC and the country,” he promised.