By Buba Gagigo
Yahya Menteng Sanyang, chairperson of the National Assembly committee on government projects, said that his committee has summoned the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Works to immediately appear before them to explain the transaction with Africa50 involving the Senegambia Bridge.
“As the chair of projects, my committee have instructed the minister of finance and the minister of works to immediately appear before us to explain the whole transaction about the pledging of the Senegambia bridge, and they are summoned to appear in person and bring along all the documents related to this transaction,” Hon. Sanyang told Kerr Fatou on Thursday.
The chairman said they didn’t want to adjourn the sitting due to lack of appearance of a minister or failure to bring or produce documents related to the transaction.
“This might lead to a sacking of a minister because if the president refuses to sack a minster, the National Assembly is given constitutional powers to sack a minister if found wanting. I don’t know if the present set and union of the National assembly members will sack a minister looking at the partisan tricks and governance, but I will personally move a motion to sack any of these ministers if found wanting. They moved hastily to pledge the bridge because donors have lost confidence in this government. The creditors want to protect their loans and interest,” he said.
Seedy Keita, Minister of Finance of the Gambia, announced on CNBC Africa that the government of the Gambia has signed a $100 million agreement with Africa50, an infrastructure investment platform founded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and African states. The agreement is to manage and operate the Senegambia Bridge, a major crossing point across connecting the South and North banks of the Gambia River.