By Seedy Jobe
The Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) on Wednesday officially inaugurated a newly constructed fish seller facility at Serrekunda Market, a D4.1 million project aimed at improving sanitation, hygiene, and working conditions for vendors.
Speaking at the ceremony, KMC Chief Executive Officer Paa Sait Ceesay said the facility was fully financed by the Council as part of its commitment to upgrading public infrastructure and supporting market vendors.
Ceesay explained that the 335-square-meter structure includes 24 fish-selling tables with space for 124 users, four septic tanks, and eight water tubs. He said the project addresses years of poor conditions faced by fish sellers, who play a key role in the municipality’s local economy.
“The completion of this facility demonstrates that despite competing demands on our limited resources, the Council remains steadfast in investing in projects that directly improve the lives and welfare of the people of the Kanifing Municipality,” he said.
Ceesay commended the Planning and Development Department for its technical supervision and MJ20 Construction, the civil engineering firm behind the project, for delivering the work professionally. He added that the Council remains focused on investing in markets and roads despite limited resources.
KMC Lord Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda said the project fulfilled a promise made during his 2023 re-election campaign after meeting fish sellers who complained about sanitation, waste management, and a lack of infrastructure.
“Creating a decent space for our mothers and sisters to sell is not a privilege; it’s a basic human right,” Bensouda said. He described the facility as a symbol of women’s empowerment, noting that similar facilities have already been built at the Latrikunda Sabiji, Kotu, Tallinding Jilifiti Kunda and Tallinding Yafatou Njie markets.
The mayor called on the council to continue prioritizing such projects, stressing that infrastructure for the informal sector directly supports livelihoods for more than half of Gambians. “So to our mothers, I will stand by you, foot to foot, until you get what you deserve,” he added.
Bensouda also emphasized the need for citizens to engage directly with their elected leaders, saying meaningful development begins when people openly communicate the challenges affecting them. He assured vendors that the Council would continue investing in market infrastructure and other development projects aimed at improving livelihoods.
Market stakeholders welcomed the development. Sedina Kebbeh, Secretary General of the Gambia Market Union, appealed to vendors still selling by the roadside to move into the new shed and called for collaboration with police to keep roads clear for traffic.
Modou Ceesay, Serrekunda Market President, said no administration since the PPP era had delivered as much for the market as the current one. He recalled a time when waste and water were major problems, with traders once having to contribute money to collect garbage.
Matar Jobe, contractor with MJ20, said the facility includes a drainage system, taps at every table row, and light sockets for charging phones — features he described as new for markets in The Gambia. He urged vendors to maintain the facility.
Lamin Jammeh, Chairman of the KMC Standing Market Committee, said the project demonstrates what can be achieved through teamwork. He noted that the contractor used modern techniques to maximize space, given that the market sits on a soakaway.
Council officials said the facility is expected to significantly improve public health standards and service delivery within Serrekunda Market.
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