By: Sulayman Waan
Malang Jammeh, the deputy permanent secretary at the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure has said that the implemented rural feeder roads project is a framework characterized by government’s vision 2020 and anchor to Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper to progress Economic Growth and Employment.
“Over the years, European Union (EU) has been the Gambia’s main donor in the transport sector and it is the only donor involved in the governance of the road sector. It contributed over 76.5 million Euros to this sector,” he said in his statement at the signing ceremony of UNOPS contract with major construction companies in the country.
He then added that: “The feeder roads project came as a result of the Gambia government’s request to the EU to fund the country’s transport sector project in support of its Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment (PAGE).”
Mr. Jammeh revealed that the construction of these feeder roads in the rural communities will improve the road networks, noting that it will go a long way in alleviating poverty in these communities by linking them to socio-economic facilities such as markets, schools, health cares and among others.
“When these roads network are improved the communities will commence to discover more improvement in social amenities such as electricity, water supply and among others,” he observed.
Mr. Jammeh disclosed that the project aims to improve access to social facilities and markets in targeted rural areas as well as to improve management of road network in The Gambia, saying that the first objective will be the achievement of the rehabilitation of about 104.4km of feeder roads.
“Secondly, the road network will address the issue of road maintenance through improved maintenance of the road network and reduced overloading of trucks on the road network,” he said.
On behalf of the government, he commended EU on their contribution in nation building, adding that the project will help to minimize road maintenance as well as addressing weak management system within the National Road Authority (NRA) which will be enhance through technical assistance.
“The government through NRA have benefitted from capacity building programmes by embarking on study tours to Ghana and Senegal on Axle Load Control and to University of Birmingham for road maintenance and management,” he disclosed.
He added that: “Assistance from the Technical Advisor on Axle Load Control, Stakeholder engagement were carried out throughout the country with local government authorities, drivers union at all transport terminals, the police and relevant government authorities as part of the sensitization”.
Jammeh stated that a communication strategy was also developed by the Technical Advisors with Afrique Pesage and site was identified near GPMB for the construction of trial Weight Bridge, saying that the country had launched Axle Loan Control with assistance from Technical Advisors.
“The Technical Advisors on road maintenance have been providing assistance to GRA on the job training on condition survey to collect relevant data to prepare work programmes.
