By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The Gambia government has floated tenders for the design and build of the Kunta Kinteh-type ferry.
“Tenders have been floated and evaluation complete and the report submitted to the African Development Bank (ADB) for the design and build of the new ferry the type of Kunta Kinteh. We expect that once the contract is signed, very soon…Within six months, the new ferry; the type of Kunta Kinteh, would be delivered,” the Managing Director of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), Mr. Ousman Jobarteh, told a press conference on Friday.
He revealed that the Ministry of Transport has also engaged government authorities about the need for a second ferry.
“The Ministry of Transport has also engaged with government authorities and the conscious decision was taken and GPA was informed to go for a second ferry. So in this contract, we are going to buy two new ferries instead of one,” the GPA boss explained.
“The idea is that once ADB funds one of the ferries with grant, if there is any funding gap, the GPA would have to intervene and talk to the contractor on financing arrangement so that new ferries will be delivered for ferry service along Banjul/Barra,” Mr. Jobarteh further explained.
He pointed out that the GPA fully understands the onus placed on the Authority to ensure safer and more reliable ferry service.
“It is our intention to ensure that the traveling public has access to go about their daily activities and the ferries form a vital component because of the nature of the country. It’s divided into two by the river thus the socio-economic need for people to cross at different points along the bank,” said Mr. Jobarteh.