By Fatou Sillah
The Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, Abdoulie Jobe, has informed the National Assembly that several eco-lodge projects contracted by the Gambia Tourism Board remain unfinished despite the payment of millions of dalasis to the contractor.
Responding to a question from the National Assembly Member for Sami Constituency, the minister said the projects, initiated in 2020 at multiple locations across the country, have encountered serious implementation and contractual management challenges.
Mr. Jobe told lawmakers that on March 24, 2020, the Gambia Tourism Board, under its former Director General Abdoulie Hydara, awarded a contract to Lerr Group to construct eco-lodges at Barra, Kunkiling, Sotoma, Sambukoi, Nyanga Bantang and Arafat. The contract was valued at D111,690,525 and was scheduled for completion by September 30, 2021.
According to the minister, the contract included an advance payment arrangement under which the contractor received a substantial payment shortly after the agreement was signed.
“The payment structure included a 40% advance payment, and 38,848,878.26 was paid on the 6th of April 2020,” Mr. Jobe said.
He further disclosed that the contract value was later increased through addendums approved by a subsequent director general.
“In June the former Director General, Mr. Abubakar Camara, approved three addendums totaling 6,881,000, increasing the contract sum to 118,571,910,” the minister said.
Despite the payments made, Mr. Jobe said none of the eco-lodges has been completed, and construction did not begin at some sites.
“GT Board has since paid the contractor D72,727,748.26, representing 61% of the contract amount; however, none of the ecologists have been completed and construction never commenced at Nyanga Bantang and Arafat,” he told lawmakers.
Mr. Jobe said that after assuming office, he directed the tourism board to submit a comprehensive report on the projects, which revealed significant contractual and construction shortcomings.
“The review revealed serious contractual management deficiencies, and all payments to Lerr were suspended pending an independent assessment by GamWorks,” he said.
The independent assessment, submitted in November 2024, found varying levels of incomplete and defective work across the project sites. It also indicated that the cost of completing the outstanding works has risen substantially.
“The estimated cost by GamWorks to complete the outstanding works at Barra, Sotoma Sambukoi, Kunkuling and Arafat is 157,715,000 at 2025 prices,” the minister said.
Mr. Jobe added that legal advice from the Ministry of Justice determined that the contract contained significant legal flaws and recommended its termination. “The advice recommended termination of the contract and legal action to recover funds and damages,” he said.
According to the minister, the matter was presented to Cabinet earlier this year.
“In January 2026 I presented the matter to Cabinet and Cabinet approved the following actions to terminate the contract between GT Board and Lerr Group and instruct GT Board under the supervision of the Ministry of Justice to commence legal proceedings against Lerr Group,” he said.
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