By Makutu Manneh
Banjul Governor and Executive Coordinator Ebrima Jawo has attributed the recent flooding in the capital to the encroachment of the Tanbi Wetland and poor waste management, rejecting claims that the city’s newly constructed roads are to blame.
Speaking on GRTS, Mr. Jawo said Banjul experienced heavy rainfall two days ago and acknowledged that the low-lying island city is naturally vulnerable to flooding. However, he argued that the latest flooding was primarily caused by human activities rather than natural factors.
“So I will say, what we saw happen in Banjul is man-made and not natural,” Mr. Jawo said. “The reason why I said that, I mean, the drainage system is working very well.”
He noted that the government of President Adama Barrow had, in recent years, rehabilitated Banjul’s drainage network and upgraded several roads as part of efforts to improve the city’s infrastructure.
According to Mr. Jawo, those investments are being undermined by poor waste management, with uncollected garbage being washed into drains during heavy rains and obstructing the free flow of water.
“Unfortunately, what is happening is that most people are not clearing their waste, and because of poor waste management,” he said.
The governor stressed that waste management is the responsibility of the Banjul City Council (BCC), while also urging residents to properly dispose of their refuse to help reduce the risk of flooding.
Mr. Jawo also pointed to environmental degradation as a major contributor to the problem. He recalled the devastating 1948 floods, which claimed lives and destroyed property, prompting the British colonial administration to construct Banjul’s ring canal drainage system.
He said the Tanbi Wetland has historically served as a natural floodplain, absorbing excess rainwater, while the surrounding mangrove ecosystem forms a critical natural barrier against the sea.
Over the years, however, he said the wetland has been degraded by encroachment, with individuals extending properties, constructing garages and other structures, and clearing mangroves, reducing the area’s capacity to absorb floodwaters.
Mr. Jawo’s assessment contrasts with the views expressed by some Banjul residents and other Gambians, many of whom have blamed the Barrow administration’s recent road construction projects for worsening flooding in the capital following heavy rains.
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