By Buba Gagigo
The Brikama Area Council (BAC) has allocated twenty-eight million Dalasis (D28 million) to twenty-eight ward councilors in the West Coast Region to fund development projects aimed at addressing key challenges in their respective communities.
The wards benefiting from this initiative include Sintet, Wassadu, Mayork, Bantanjang, Kanilai, Bwiam, Kusamai, Sibanor, Somita, Bullock, Kafuta, Pirang, Giboro, Kembujeh, Nyambai, Suba, Marakissa, Kartong, Gunjur, Sanyang, Sukuta, Bijilo, Brufut, Jabang, Kunkujang Keitaya, Wellingara Nema, Lamin, and Banjulinding.
Speaking at the distribution ceremony, BAC Chairman Yankuba Darboe highlighted the region’s rapid population growth and the pressing challenges that accompany it, including waste management, overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure, environmental degradation, and frequent flooding.
“This rapid increase in population comes with many challenges for the region, such as: Waste management and sanitation; High population density and overcrowding; Inadequate infrastructure and services; Lack of affordable housing and slum creation; Pollution and environmental degradation and flooding and water problems. It is towards mitigating these challenges, that we initiated the Ward Development Funds for the 28 wards of our region, in order to enable our council to register development projects in each and every ward of our region annually,” Chairman Darboe stated.
Chairman Darboe emphasized that BAC’s decentralized and participatory approach empowers communities to actively participate in the decision-making, implementation, and maintenance of local development projects.
Reflecting on last year’s accomplishments, Darboe noted that the council previously disbursed D14 million—allocating D500,000 to each ward—which facilitated the successful construction of 22 boreholes providing clean drinking water, the erection of eight market sheds across nine communities, and the connection of three communities to the national electricity grid.
“Such a participatory model fosters a sense of ownership among the people, which is crucial for the sustainability of the projects. The decentralization model further ensures that every ward of our region receives a fair share of our region’s limited resources and revenues mobilized annually. It was towards these goals that we registered the disbursement of D14 million last year, on 28th February 2024, to the 28 wards of our region, with each receiving D500,000.00.” he said.
Marking the second anniversary of the initiative under his leadership, Darboe expressed pride in this year’s increased funding.
“This year, 2025 marking the 2nd anniversary of this great development initiative for our region under my leadership, we are delighted to announce that this year’s disbursement will be D28 million with each ward receiving or benefiting D1 million dalasis. This is further significant progress for the development and empowerment of our people and region,” he added.
The Brikama Area Council, one of The Gambia’s eight local government administrative authorities, oversees the development and administration of the West Coast Region.
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