By Makutu Manneh
President Adama Barrow on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a major road infrastructure project covering 781 kilometers across the Upper and Central River Regions, marking one of the government’s largest domestic infrastructure undertakings to date.
The project forms part of Phase I of a broader 1,500-kilometer national roads programme and will see the construction of 385 kilometers of paved and all-weather roads in the Upper River Region and 395 kilometers in the Central River Region. The initiative is fully financed through domestic resources, according to the government.
Speaking at the launch ceremony in Tinkinjo, the president said the financing model reflects what he described as a growing national capacity to fund development projects without reliance on external borrowing.
“This is a powerful demonstration of our growing capacity to drive our own development, without dependence on external borrowing,” Mr. Barrow said.
He said the new road network is intended to improve connectivity across rural communities and ensure that development reaches underserved areas in both regions, adding that the investment would have “real and lasting benefits” for residents.
The president highlighted agriculture as a key beneficiary of the project, noting that improved transport links would reduce transportation costs, cut post-harvest losses, and improve farmers’ access to markets. He cited producers of groundnuts, sesame, cereals, and other crops as expected beneficiaries of improved market access and pricing.
“This means more income for farming families and greater economic security for households generally,” he said.
Beyond agriculture, Mr. Barrow said the road network would strengthen broader economic activity by facilitating trade, attracting investment, and supporting small businesses and entrepreneurs. He also pointed to the country’s proximity to Senegal, saying improved infrastructure would enhance cross-border trade and help communities better benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He further noted that improved roads would significantly enhance access to essential services, including faster emergency response times and better reach for health services in remote communities.
“Given the proximity to Senegal, the new roads will strengthen cross-border trade and position our communities to benefit from wider opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he added.
The president described the project as a step toward reducing regional disparities in development, saying communities in the Upper River Region and Central River Region would not be left behind under his administration’s development agenda.
“I take this opportunity, here in Tinkinjo, to renew our commitment to the communities of URR and CRR. Under the Yiriwaa Plan, development is not a privilege for a few. It is a right for all Gambians,” he said.
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