By Fatou Sillah
The Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) has confirmed the payment of a D170 million dividend to the government for the 2023 financial year, alongside an interim dividend of D100 million for 2024.
GPA management disclosed this during an appearance before the National Assembly’s Public Enterprise Committee, which was reviewing a follow-up report on the authority’s performance in cargo handling operations.
Committee members queried GPA officials on compliance with a formal dividend policy, noting that such a framework is still under development and awaiting presentation to the Cabinet.
Responding to the concerns, GPA management stated, “The observations are valid; just to pick up where you left off, the dividend that was paid in 2023 was 170 million, and the interim dividend paid for 2024 is also 100 million,” management said.
Management explained that the payments were guided by prevailing industry practice, under which approximately 25 percent of net profits are allocated to shareholders, pending the establishment of a comprehensive government dividend policy.
Lawmakers also raised issues relating to staff management, calling for age-based retirements and equitable staff rotation to curb wage drift and improve operational efficiency. GPA officials acknowledged the concerns and indicated that they would be addressed through internal reviews and restructuring of staff deployment.
On monitoring and evaluation, GPA management revealed that a new performance contract signed with the government in 2023 now governs administrative, operational, and financial key performance indicators (KPIs). Quarterly assessments are conducted and submitted to the State-Owned Enterprises Commission and relevant ministries.
According to GPA officials, the KPIs cover areas including cargo-handling efficiency, timely submission of management accounts, completion of audit reports, board meetings, and reductions in administrative costs—measures they say are designed to strengthen governance and enhance overall port performance.
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