Seedy Keita, Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs
Press Release
The Government of The Gambia has dismissed as baseless and unfounded, a trending social media report claiming that following the signing of the Concession Agreement with Africa50, an exclusivity clause in the Contract bars the Government from building any new bridge including the Banjul – Barra Bridge for the next 15 years on The Gambia River.
The false claim was first made on the Kerr Fatou social media network by Dr. Gajigo and later amplified on several platforms. The government has noted that this is the second time Dr. Gajigo has been peddling such false narrative either through his opinion pieces or interviews with social media platform operators.
For avoidance of doubt and for purpose of clarity, the exclusivity clause in the Africa 50 Contract dealing with
“COMPETING BRIDGES” only restricts the building of any new bridge during the concession period within 50km radius of the Senegambia Bridge. However, this exclusivity clause does not in any way affect the Government’s ongoing efforts to construct a bridge between Banjul and Barra.
The Senegambia Bridge concession is an innovative and transformative financing model through asset recycling with the Africa 50. Government has followed due process from the negotiation to the signing of this contract by ensuring that the strategic national interest of The Gambia was safeguarded at all times.
While government recognizes the indivisible right of citizens to interrogate agreements of this nature, we urge that people are fair in their opinionated commentaries on the concession.
END