By Seedy Jobe
MC Cham Jr. has rejected recent remarks by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Badjie, describing the minister’s criticism of the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) and Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda as a “politically motivated attack.”
In a statement, MC Cham Jr. argued that Minister Badjie’s comments reflect “the shortcomings of his own ministry rather than any failures on the part of the council.”
“Bakary Badjie’s recent public outburst against the Kanifing Municipal Council and Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda says far more about the shortcomings of his own ministry than it does about the performance of the council,” MC Cham Jr. said in a statement.He noted that the prolonged closure of the Independence Stadium occurred under Minister Badjie’s leadership, resulting in the national football team hosting home matches abroad.
“The stadium crisis is the result of administrative delays and poor planning within the Ministry of Youth and Sports and not any action by the municipal council,” MC Cham Jr. emphasized.MC Cham Jr. further accused the minister of misleading the public regarding the KM road project, alleging that the central government suspended the initiative for political reasons. “KMC secured funding, prepared its plans, and made significant progress. The project was only blocked once senior political actors realized that its success would elevate Mayor Bensouda’s reputation.”
He argued that Minister Badjie’s attacks on the council are an attempt to deflect from his own performance, citing what he described as weak youth empowerment programmes and the ministry’s inability to justify increased budget allocations or implement impactful development projects.
According to MC Cham Jr., “KMC under Mayor Bensouda continues to deliver a transparent and people-centered administration,” MC Cham Jr. said, highlighting the council’s achievements in waste management, environmental reforms, and youth employment initiatives.