Ebrima Sillah, the Minister of Works and Infrastructure (MoWI), has acknowledged errors made by officials of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) regarding the Deep Sea Port (DSP) project in Sanyang, located in the Kombo South district of the West Coast Region.
During a broadcast of the popular Mengbe Kereng radio program on February 13, 2025, Sillah admitted that both his ministry and the GPA could have executed the project more effectively.
In his address, Minister Sillah expressed his regret and apologized to the residents of Sanyang for the lack of adequate engagement throughout the project’s planning and execution phases. He stated that the ministry failed to communicate effectively with the community about the intentions surrounding the project, which led to feelings of uncertainty among the locals.
The minister’s admission comes amid increasing pressure from various local groups, including the Sanyang Village Development Committee (SVDC), the Sanyang Development Fund (SDF), the Deep Sea Taskforce Committee, and the Sanyang UK Association (SUKA). These organizations have been vocal in demanding the government relocate the project site to a more suitable area between Sanyang and Tujereng, ensure thorough consultations with the community, and reconsider the land acquisition requirements associated with the DSP project.
Sillah noted, “What they (the community of Sanyang) wanted was for us to write to them officially on how we intend to go about the project, but we (MoWI and GPA) did not do that; we came abruptly to the community and told them this is what we wanted to do.”
He further acknowledged the importance of effectively informing the community about the project’s implementation timeline and objectives.
Highlighting the concerns raised by local leaders, including the Sanyang Village Development Committee (VDC), Bulungda, and the Council of Elders, Sillah noted that these groups have now come together to form a unified stance on the project and have sought legal assistance.
“This is why the people of Sanyang, the VDC, Bulungda, and the Council of Elders together held a discussion, agreed on a common position, came out with various options, and also hired a lawyer to help them on this matter,” Sillah stated.
He emphasized the importance of legal representation, particularly as compensation issues may arise during the project’s progression.
The minister also admitted that some issues could have been avoided altogether, explaining that the GPA had been conducting a scoping exercise rather than a comprehensive survey necessary to understand the project’s requirements and identify affected properties. “There were certain errors that we mistakenly made that could have been avoided… We were engaging in a scoping mission to assess the project’s needs,” he explained.
Sillah acknowledged that his ministry and the GPA’s bureaucratic approach, specifically initiating scoping activities without prior consultation with the Sanyang community, contributed to rising tensions.
He noted, “This action was worrying to the people of Sanyang, prompting them to engage in writing, listening to the radio, and even coming here (to Mengbe Kereng). We definitely (MoWI and GPA) agreed with their views because we could have done better.”
Minister Ebrima Sillah of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure (MoWI) also announced that, in response to community concerns, both MoWI and the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) have decided to halt all scoping activities in Sanyang.
This decision aims to improve engagement with the local community. Sillah noted that a pre-entry engagement session has already taken place, attended by key stakeholders, including the Governor of West Coast, district chiefs, and Indigenous elders, to communicate the government’s intention to develop a Deep Sea Port in Sanyang.
During a recent meeting with the Sanyang Village Development Committee (VDC) on February 16, 2025, community members voiced their concerns regarding the GPA’s initial engagement and operations in the area.
Minister Sillah confirmed that the MoWI and GPA have recognized and accepted the mistakes made before these pre-entry engagements and have since ceased all work, offering apologies to the Sanyang community.
Additionally, Minister Sillah mentioned plans to establish a steering committee that will include two representatives from Sanyang, allowing community voices to participate in the project’s development. He emphasized that any joint assessment conducted with the community would lead to binding decisions for the project’s implementation.
Ousman Jobarteh, Managing Director of GPA, also acknowledged significant errors, particularly regarding the distribution of promotional materials without community consultation.
He expressed that prior miscommunications about affected properties had misled the public and the National Assembly. Jobarteh confirmed that all previous assessments would be revoked until a mutual understanding with the Sanyang community is reached.
