By Seedy Jobe
President Adama Barrow on Saturday inaugurated a 91-kilometer road network in Kiang West, describing the project as a turning point that ends decades of isolation and integrates the region more fully into the national economy.
At a ceremony marking the completion of the project, Mr. Barrow said the investment reflects his administration’s commitment to equitable development, regardless of geography or political affiliation.
“In 2021, my government made a firm commitment to bring development closer to the people,” he said. “Inclusive development without discrimination or exclusion remains our guiding principle, with the conviction that development must never be determined by location or political affiliation.”
For years, he noted, poor infrastructure left Kiang West largely cut off, particularly during the rainy season, when travel became difficult and access to markets and essential services was limited. “This has changed permanently,” he said, adding that the new roads would open the region “to the rest of the country and, importantly, to the world for business.”
The project, which cost an estimated 1.2 billion dalasis, connects more than 30 communities and is expected to improve the movement of goods and services. Farmers will be able to transport produce more efficiently, traders can expand operations with lower costs, and investors may find new opportunities in areas once hindered by inaccessibility, the president said.
“This is what development means,” Mr. Barrow added. “It is about initiating real change in people’s lives, measured not only by the structures we build, but by the lives we improve.”
He emphasized the broader role of infrastructure in national development, noting that improved roads facilitate access to electricity, clean water, education, and health care. “Roads ensure that teachers reach classrooms with ease, medicines reach clinics on time, and farmers reach the markets of their choice,” he said.
Since taking office in 2017, Mr. Barrow said his government has financed major road projects largely through domestic revenue—a shift he described as unprecedented. He cited more than 18.5 billion dalasis invested in road construction, resulting in over 1,200 kilometers of feeder roads nationwide.
He also pointed to other infrastructure efforts, including urban drainage improvements in Banjul and road projects in Niumi, Saloum, and Kabada, as part of a broader strategy to connect regions and stimulate economic growth. By the end of 2026, he said, the government expects to add 375 kilometers of paved roads to the national network.
The Kiang West project was carried out entirely by Gambian firms, including Gai Construction Company and Cityscapes Consultants, under the supervision of the National Road Authority—a development Mr. Barrow said underscores growing local capacity in the construction sector.
“This demonstrates the ability of our local enterprises to deliver major national projects,” he said. “Every kilometer of road constructed by Gambians is an investment not only in infrastructure, but in skills, experience, and national confidence.”
Mr. Barrow thanked engineers, technicians, and laborers involved in the project, as well as local communities, for their cooperation. He also urged citizens to take responsibility for maintaining the new infrastructure.
“Infrastructure is a national asset that rests on shared responsibility,” he said. “I urge all road users to respect traffic regulations and safeguard this important investment.”
Declaring the road network officially open, Mr. Barrow described the project as “a permanent symbol of transformational vision, determination and national unity.”
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