By Staff Writer
Port activities at the Port of Banjul have come to a complete standstill following a sit-down strike by employees of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), which began on Thursday, 4 June 2026, over unresolved welfare concerns. As of the time of reporting, operations had been suspended for approximately 16 hours, raising serious concerns about disruptions to the country’s primary economic gateway.
The industrial action has brought all port operations to a halt, significantly affecting cargo handling, trade flows, and the movement of imports and exports. The disruption is expected to have far-reaching implications for commercial activity and supply chains across The Gambia.
At the heart of the dispute is a demand by workers for the transfer of responsibility for staff welfare from Alport Banjul back to the GPA. Employees contend that such a move is necessary to better protect their interests, improve working conditions, and restore confidence in the management of welfare-related matters.
Speaking on behalf of the workers, the President of the Staff Welfare Association, Adama Jatta, stated that employees will not resume duties until their demands are fully met. The workers have also alleged that both GPA and Alport Banjul have failed to comply with a directive previously issued by the Office of the President—an assertion that reportedly surprised senior government officials during emergency discussions held on Thursday.
In response to the escalating situation, the Secretary to the Cabinet, Alieu Njie, and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Modou Dibba, along with the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Works, convened an emergency meeting on Friday, June 5th, 2026, with representatives of the GPA Staff Association. However, the talks ended without a resolution.
Sources familiar with the meeting indicated that officials at the State House were taken aback by discrepancies between the information presented during the discussions and prior briefings, further complicating efforts to reach a swift settlement.
A high-level meeting is scheduled for Saturday, June 6th, at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Center. This meeting will bring together key stakeholders—including representatives from State House, the Ministry of Works, GPA management, Alport Banjul, and the Staff Association—and is widely viewed as a critical opportunity to resolve the dispute and prevent a prolonged shutdown.
The Port of Banjul remains a vital lifeline for The Gambia’s economy, handling the vast majority of the country’s cargo. Any extended disruption threatens severe consequences for businesses, importers, exporters, and consumers who rely on the steady flow of goods.
Pressure is mounting on government authorities, GPA management, and Alport Banjul to urgently resolve the impasse and restore normal operations before the economic impact deepens.
“The workers’ position is clear: there will be no return to normal operations until their welfare demands are fully and satisfactorily met,” said Adama Jatta, President of the GPA Staff Welfare Association.
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