By: Fatou Krubally
The Minister for Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Ebrima Sillah, yesterday informed the National Assembly that the concession agreement between the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) and Albayrak is progressing, although some aspects of the project experienced delays.
The minister was responding to a question from Abdoulie Njai, Member for Banjul Central, who asked about the current status of the agreement and the reasons for delays in its implementation.
Minister Sillah told lawmakers that the rehabilitation of the Port of Banjul has been completed within the timeframe initially set under the concession agreement.
According to him, the works were scheduled to be completed within one year from the effective date of the agreement, which was 14 February 2025.
He added that the construction of the new container terminal within the properties acquired in Havdai has also been completed and the facility is currently being utilised.
The minister further stated that new equipment has been delivered to the port and rehabilitation works at the existing terminal are still on-going.
However, he acknowledged that pre-construction activities for the planned port development in Sanyang were delayed.
He explained that the delay was partly due to the government’s inability to provide the necessary lease documents for the land where the studies were expected to take place.
According to him, the concessionaire could not begin technical studies without clear land ownership documentation.
“As part of the conditions precedent, the government was required to provide the lease for the land in Sanyang to allow the concessionaire to conduct geotechnical studies and environmental impact assessments,” he told the Assembly.
Minister Sillah said the delay in providing the lease triggered other challenges, which led both parties to agree on new timelines for the studies.
He noted that with the lease now secured, the parties have approximately one year to complete the required studies before construction begins.
