By: Kemo Kanyi
The Mayor of the Kanifing Municipality, Talib Ahmed Bensouda, has condemned the Gambia government’s decision to assume full control of the McCarthy Square.
The government announced last week that it has taken over the management of the historic square from the Banjul City Council (BCC).
In a letter sent to the BCC, the central government said the State House had made a significant investment in refurbishing the square, emphasizing the need for “proper management and adequate security” to maintain the square. The government disclosed that it had some plans in the works to conduct an inventory of all movable assets at the square in consultation with the BCC.
The government announced that its move to take control of McCarthy Square was because the BCC lacked the resources to properly manage it.
However, the mayor of the Kanifing Municipality has reacted sharply to the government’s argument, describing it as “misguided and in total contradiction” of the Gambia government’s decentralization policy, which is guided by the National Policy for Decentralization and Local Development (2015-2024).This policy aims to empower local governments, promote citizen participation, and improve service delivery by devolving powers and resources to the local level.
Mayor Bensouda opined that the government should have engaged the BCC over the investment plan so that both authorities can commit some funds towards McCarthy Square’s re-development.
“The State should have informed BCC of their planned investment in the square as part of a comprehensive and inclusive agenda that could see the BCC commit some resources or require the state to finally disburse 100s of millions of owed subventions to commit to the area, especially since it’s located at the periphery of the most important installation of the country, the State House,” he posted on Facebook on Monday.
Bensouda stated that local governments, though autonomous, should be effective partners of the central government through cooperation, collaboration, and effective communication, adding that the “abrupt seizure” of the McCarthy Square does not embody any of these values.
He contended that local government authorities along the length and breadth of the country both from the ruling party and opposition are impeded by similar administrative and governance bottlenecks that drag their progress.
Mayor Bensouda expressed his solidarity with the management of the BCC as he renewed his “commitment” to fight in transformative cause for effective councils.
“I, therefore, sympathize greatly with Mayor Rohey Lowe, Deputy Mayor Aziz Gaye and the council of BCC on this executive overreach by the state and commit to stand with them as we fight together for transformational local government reform to build a better nation,” stated the KMC mayor.