Mayor Talib Bensouda Accuses NRA Of Impeding KMC Street Undertaking – Kerr Fatou On-line Media Home

By Buba Gagigo

Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the Mayor of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), has alleged that the National Roads Authority (NRA) is obstructing his administration’s efforts to implement a significant highway development challenge throughout the municipality. 

He made these remarks whereas addressing residents of Tallinding in response to current criticisms from President Adama Barrow.

“They claim we haven’t built any roads, but we allocated D300 million to construct 16 roads in the KMC. We paid the contractor D20 million to begin the project, yet the NRA is doing everything in its power to stop it. This is a road project meant for the public, so why wouldn’t they support it? They argue that building these roads would require demolishing some compounds, but KMC has no intention of doing so. We would never demolish anyone’s hard-earned property,” Mayor Bensouda said.

The Mayor emphasised that the funds allotted for the highway development come immediately from KMC’s personal income, with none help from the central authorities, asserting that no exterior stress would deter them from finishing the challenge.

“I want to make it clear to the NRA that this money is not from the government; it is KMC’s money. We worked hard to generate these funds without assistance from anyone. Our only goal is to build roads. Stop being an obstacle because we are not backing down. We will build these roads no matter what,” he declared.

In response to President Barrow’s criticism of KMC’s waste administration efforts, Bensouda turned the highlight on municipalities led by the National People’s Party (NPP), accusing them of poor efficiency in sustaining cleanliness.

“President Barrow mentioned KMC is soiled and that we haven’t delivered outcomes. But have you ever seen Barra? It is the dirtiest place in the whole Gambia, and it’s led by an NPP chairman. The identical goes for Farafenni, Kuntaur, Janjanbureh, and Basse. All these locations are soiled. Yet the President suggests councils ought to collaborate with the central authorities for help, however the NPP-led councils don’t even have fundamental instruments like a wheelbarrow. They don’t have neighborhood facilities or soccer parks.

“In contrast, the UDP-led councils are the only ones delivering results. Even Yankuba Darboe, who hasn’t been in office for a year, has managed to procure trucks. I want to tell President Barrow that we are not here to fight or argue. We are here to work for the betterment of The Gambia. Let’s focus on action instead of empty rhetoric,” the KMC Mayor concluded.

Mayor Bensouda’s feedback come amidst growing political stress between native councils and the central authorities over the execution of growth initiatives.