Bensouda Pledges Hospital, Mosque and Mini-Stadium for CRR North

By Fatou Sillah

Talib Ahmed Bensouda, the mayor of Kanifing and presidential candidate of Coalition 2026, has pledged to build a regional hospital, a mosque and an international-standard mini-stadium in the northern part of the Central River Region if elected president.

Speaking at a Coalition 2026 rally in Bati Ndarr, Upper Saloum Constituency, Mr. Bensouda outlined a series of development proposals aimed at improving healthcare, water supply, agriculture and recreational facilities in CRR North.

Describing himself as a son of the region, Mr. Bensouda assured residents that their communities would receive greater attention under his administration.

“I am a child of CRR North. If I become president, CRR North will not be left behind,” he said.

Among his pledges was the construction of a larger mosque in Bati Ndarr, which he said would address the community’s need for a more spacious place of worship.

“I am told that Bati needs a bigger mosque, so I am promising the people of Bati that if I become president, I will construct a very big mosque here because this is a religious place,” he said.

On healthcare, Mr. Bensouda promised to establish a regional hospital equipped with ambulances, citing the long distances residents currently travel to seek medical treatment in Farafenni and Bansang.

“If I become president, we are going to construct a regional hospital in CRR North, with its own ambulances,” he said.

He also pledged to improve access to clean drinking water, saying residents should no longer have to rely on traditional wells to meet their daily water needs.

As part of his plans to expand recreational infrastructure, Mr. Bensouda promised to construct a mini-stadium built to international standards, providing improved sporting facilities for young people in the region.

Turning to agriculture, the Coalition 2026 candidate said his administration would prioritize the revival of rice production and strengthen support for farmers in CRR North, an area he described as a former major producer of locally grown rice.

He proposed transforming the region into an agricultural hub through increased investment, improved access to farming equipment and the establishment of an agricultural bank.

“We will make this place the agricultural capital, with an agricultural bank to provide farmers with loans to buy tractors and other equipment,” he said.

Mr. Bensouda said the proposed bank would help farmers secure financing to modernize their operations, increase productivity and strengthen the region’s agricultural economy.

The pledges form part of his campaign’s broader effort to present Coalition 2026 as an alternative focused on infrastructure development, agricultural revitalization and improved access to essential public services.