The Senegambia Bridge Agreement is a National Loss – LamToro News
by Madi Jobarteh.
Thanks to Dr. Ousman Gagigo, the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs has now uploaded the Concession Agreement on the Senegambia Bridge between the Government and Africa50. The Agreement was signed on 21st June 2024, however the Ministry by no means felt obliged to publicly show the doc on their web site at the moment as required by the Access to Information Act 2021. But when Dr. Gagigo uncovered some contents of the Agreement, they responded by sharing the contract. Section 7 of the Access to Information Act requires public our bodies to instantly and “proactively disclose” all needed public data of their custody similar to this Agreement.
In trying to dispute Dr. Gagigo, the Ministry tried to clarify ‘competing bridges’ which based on the Agreement, no new bridge throughout the River Gambia must be constructed inside 50km radius of the Senegambia Bridge for the following 25 years however excluding the Banjul-Barra Bridge.
What the Government didn’t say nevertheless, which was raised by Dr. Gagigo is the problem of ‘competing route’. In the Definition and Interpretation’ part of the Agreement, a ‘competing route’ is a “new seafaring {including ferry), road excluding Competing Bridges, or rail transport infrastructure, including any mass transport scheme” whether or not undertaken by Government or a personal enterprise. The motive is that they are not looking for such a facility to, “adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, traffic volumes on the Bridge and/or the operating revenues of the Concessionaire.”
Clause 7.4 of the Agreement on the ‘Obligations relating to Competing Route’, states that neither social gathering shall, “at any time, construct, or cause and/or permit in any way the construction of, any Competing Route, except where the volume of Vehicles on the Bridge (as set out in the Annual Traffic Volume Report) has exceeded the annual volume forecast set out in the Base Case Traffic Model by fifty per cent. (50%) or more for two consecutive Contract Years.”
By this Agreement due to this fact, it successfully signifies that nowhere alongside the River Gambia may the Government assemble a bridge as a result of any bridge is probably going to have an effect on site visitors therefore income of the Senegambia Bridge. Similarly, it means the Government can’t launch a river transport system or assemble a railway just because these routes shall be actual rivals in opposition to the Senegambia Bridge. How can the nation anticipate 25 years earlier than it embarks on constructing such vital infrastructures, providers and amenities for the event of the nation?
After all, there’s nothing particular or pressing to justify subjecting Senegambia Bridge to a so-called property recycling program. The proof is that earlier than the signing of this Agreement, the Senegambia Bridge was making revenue based on each the Minister of Finance Seedy Keita and Minister of Works Ebrima Sillah.
For instance, in March 2024, i.e., three months earlier than the Agreement with Africa50 was signed, Minister Seedy Keita stood on the ground of the National Assembly to inform NAMs that the entire income generated from the Senegambia Bridge between 2021 and 2023 stood at D1.09 billion. A month earlier than the signing of the Agreement, Minster Ebrima Sillah additionally acknowledged on Coffee Time with Peter Gomez that Senegambia Bridget was making 52 million dalasi per 30 days.
From their accounts, i.e., Seedy Keita and Ebrima Sillah, the Senegambia Bridge was due to this fact a worthwhile enterprise which was run by the Government itself. The query now could be, why ought to the Senegambia Bridge be mortgaged to a international entity for 25 years when it was not solely making revenue for the nation however by mortgaging it the Government will now obtain much less income? According to the Agreement Africa50 pays the Government solely 100 million US {dollars} over 25 years. But based on Government figures, the bridge can fetch way more if run by the Government itself. Therefore, why mortgage the bridge?
It is unhappy that the National Assembly has did not defend the nation by not rejecting this fraudulent Agreement. They have achieved an enormous disservice to the nation, they usually should right it and be held accountable. This Agreement should be revoked in order that Gambians take possession of this very important nationwide asset. This Agreement is irresponsible and an enormous dereliction of responsibility which constitutes an enormous financial loss to the nation. Individuals who can’t safe and defend nationwide curiosity mustn’t maintain public workplace.
For The Gambia Our Homeland
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Madi Jobarteh
