By Ramatoulie Jawo
The National Assembly Select Committee on Monitoring Government Projects has recommended that the Central government be transparent in awarding contracts.
The Committee highlighted this in their reports as part of the recommendations to the government.
The Monitoring Committee said there should be transparency in the awarding of contracts.
The Chairperson of the Committee Hon. Yahya Sanyang, while presenting their report to the plenary sometime last week said the Committee may want to go with the recommendations as resolutions of the National Assembly.
“Transparency in the award of contracts, award of any contract to a foreign firm must be in a joint venture with an active local construction company. Every contractor must fulfill their corporate social responsibility in their respective project intervention areas no contractor should be awarded more than two concurrent projects, except with a record of proven performance. Seriously, underperforming contractors should have their contracts terminated.
“The Public-Private Partnership for the construction of the OIC Radisson Blue Hotel should be reviewed. All project sites must have a visible work program. With the delay in the disbursement of Interim Payment Certificates (IPC), Government must complete all Locally Funded Projects (LFPs) before venturing into other LFPs. Government should expedite the payment of compensation to property owners. The Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure should consider engaging the Gambia Police Force and the Gambia Armed Forces engineering units for certain Government projects. Gambian consultants and contractors should be given preference in the award of contracts,” Hon. Sanyang.
The Committee, supported by a technical team from the Office of the Clerk, visited various government projects, particularly those committed to the National Roads Authority, through the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure.
These projects include the 84.5Km Niumi Hakalang road and loops, the North Bank Roads Lot 1 and Lot 2, the Sankandi-Karantaba Kiang West Road, the Bertil Harding Road project, 50 km urban roads, the Banjul Rehabilitation project, and the construction of the OIC Raddison Blue Hotel.