President Adama Barrow
By Fatou Sillah
President Barrow, as part of his ongoing meet-the-people tour in the Central River Region, held a joint meeting in the village of Dankunku with the residents of Niamina Dankunku, Niamina West, and Niamina East constituencies.
At the meeting, various speakers, including the National Assembly Member for Dankunku, Hon. Samba Jallow, expressed their gratitude to the President for addressing the challenges in their communities. They also called for the construction of healthcare facilities and improved road networks. Additionally, the community members requested an increase in the price of groundnuts.
Mamat Ceesay, speaking on behalf of the youth, urged the President to consider raising the price of groundnuts. “This year, we have had a low groundnut harvest, and we urge you to consider raising the prices to support us,” Ceesay said. “We believe you can make this change for us.”
Alagie Ceesay, a senior farmer, also called for an adjustment in groundnut prices, highlighting that the current harvest had not been profitable.
“Groundnut production this year was not very profitable,” Ceesay said. “We are grateful to President Barrow for his support, but as the Farmer’s Union, we ask that you review the price of groundnuts. Last year, you set the best prices across Africa, but with the rising cost of living, we need your help again. If you return to Banjul, please consider increasing the price of groundnuts for us.”
Hon. Samba Jallow, the National Assembly Member for Niamina Dankunku, took the opportunity to highlight the longstanding issue of inadequate road infrastructure in his constituency. Having served as NAM for 15 years, Jallow emphasized the need for roads to improve the community’s development.
“I want to leave a legacy, so that when I step down, people will remember that this road was built under my term as NAM,” Jallow said. “For 15 years, my people have been voting for me, and they continue to complain about poor road conditions.”
In response to the concerns about road infrastructure, President Barrow assured the people that road construction would be prioritized in Niamina West, Niamina East, and Niamina Dankunku constituencies.
“We will construct roads in all these constituencies,” the president said. “The 23-kilometer road project is already underway, and we have approved the construction of an additional 65 kilometers of roads throughout Niamina. You will see teams here soon measuring the roads, and I personally will be present for the foundation stone laying.”