The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment has moved to calm public anxiety over the ongoing cement shortage, attributing the crisis entirely to temporary infrastructural constraints at the Port of Banjul rather than any shift in national importation policy.
In an official statement released today, the Ministry explained that reduced draft depth in the port’s access channel has prevented larger vessels from berthing, leaving several ships carrying cement anchored in deeper waters offshore. “This situation is purely infrastructural and not related to the Government’s policy on cement importation,” the statement stressed.
More than 115,000 metric tonnes of cement are currently aboard “mother vessels” at sea, unable to offload due to draft limitations that have also affected other essential commodities.
Reaffirming its commitment to protecting domestic cement manufacturers, the Government reiterated that its long-standing industrial promotion policy remains unchanged. The policy is designed to boost local investment, value addition, and job creation – objectives described as “central pillars” of the national economic agenda.
Following urgent Cabinet discussions, the Gambia Ports Authority has pledged to deploy all available resources to expedite emergency dredging of the access channel. Authorities say the works will be completed “within the shortest possible time” to restore full navigational depth and eliminate congestion.
In parallel, the Government has already initiated procurement proceedings to engage a specialist dredging company to undertake comprehensive, long-term maintenance of the channel, ensuring that such disruptions do not recur.
As an interim measure to keep major construction projects on track, contractors executing large public and private works may now directly import cement through existing Special Investment Certificate (SIC) holders in the cement sector, provided they obtain prior clearance from the Ministry of Trade.
The Ministry assured citizens that once dredging advances, the waiting vessels will gain access “in the coming days,” rapidly stabilising supply. “The Government remains fully committed to ensuring supply stability, supporting domestic production, and safeguarding economic activity across the country,” the statement concluded.
