By: Momodou Justice Darboe
The Campaign Manager of the NPP, Mr. Lamin Cham, has stressed that President Adama will not slow-down in constructing roads for Gambians to promote sustainable development.
Mr. Cham asserted that President Barrow’s tenure has heralded an era of limitless hope for every citizen wherever they may reside in The Gambia thanks to his remarkable accomplishments in connecting several urban and rural communities. This, he added, is in line with the President’s vision and mission to drive inclusive and durable development through a robust road infrastructure.
“Communities that were hitherto so difficult to be accessed by motor vehicles are now within driving distance due to the President’s vision in connecting and opening up the country through roads construction,” Cham stated in an interview with The Voice on Monday.
According to the NPP chief strategist, the “many roads” that the President built and continues to construct across the country are not just mere coincidence.
“The secret behind the massive road construction in the country is the President himself. I could recall when he assumed power, he instructed the then minister of works to measure the roads that were to be built. The distance measured was over 4000km of roads that must be built. I heard that the President was once asked by an ADB boss about his priorities and he answered that road is his number one priority. When the President was asked the same question again, he said roads is second on his list of priorities and when he was asked for the third time, he said road infrastructure development is his third priority. When the official enquired from the President why he put such a great emphasis on road infrastructure development, he replied that infrastructure is the foundation of any sustainable development because with a good road network, the agriculture sector will thrive and health and educational outcomes will be enhanced,” stated Cham.
When put to him that some have accused the President of being so obsessed with roads, Cham responded: “Infrastructure is the foundation of any meaningful development. Anyone, who calls for the cessation of road construction, is an enemy of development. These roads will not only ease movement of the people and services, they will also facilitate trade. And wherever roads are being built, they’re accompanied by electricity.”
CM Cham asserted that the roads that the President constructed are stemming the tide of rural-urban drift.
“People are attracted to the urban areas because of the electricity and good roads. All the life opportunities were concentrated in the Kombos. But with the new roads and the sustained rural electrification effort, people needn’t move from Wuli or Baddibu to the big towns and cities to open welding and carpentry workshops as they can now lead productive lives in their communities without migrating to the Kombos. So, road is development,” he explained. “People are now leaving the Kombos to settle in their birthplaces. If you normally travel across the provincial Gambia, you will not fail to notice the beautiful houses there which, until now, could be only seen in the Kombos. People are now returning home because they now have access to good roads and electricity.”
