By Ousamn Saidykhan
The Minister for Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Ebrima Sillah, has clarified that his ministry only issued an operating license to Negma Investment Cooperation, a Turkish private company, to run ferry services between the Banjul-Barra crossing points, and not a permit to construct crossing infrastructure.
The statement came during a session with National Assembly members, addressing concerns over the company’s activities near the historically protected Fort Bullen site.
Responding to a question from Sainey Jawara, National Assembly Member (NAM) for Lower Saloum, who asked why the ministry allowed the company to “demolish” the gazetted Fort Bullen area for a crossing point, Sillah distanced his ministry from any responsibility for development permits. “It is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure to issue a development permit to operators or ferries to construct crossing points in any part of this country. What we do is to give them a license,” he explained.
Sillah redirected the inquiry to the Ministries of Local Governments, Lands, and Tourism, suggesting they were better positioned to address questions about the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Negmar and the issuance of development permits. He noted that Negmar received its ferry operating license in 2022 and had informed his ministry of an MoU signed with the National Centre for Arts and Culture (NCAC) in 2024, which led to the construction of the crossing point in question.
Jawara pressed further, asking whether the Transport Ministry conducted any assessments or consulted the Barra community before construction began. Sillah reiterated that his ministry’s role was limited to issuing licenses, stating, “If private operators want to construct landing sites, the process is followed through other ministries. Government is part of a synergized process.” He added that the “burden of proof” rested with the ministries overseeing land and development, not his own.
Meanwhile, Sulayman Saho, NAM for Central Badibou, raised concerns about the future of Gambia Ferry Services once Negmar’s operations commence. Sillah assured the assembly that the state-run ferry service would continue its mandate as outlined in the National Assembly Act. “Competition within the sector is allowed, and that is why the Government is also investing in more ferries to enable the ferry services to continue doing its operational mandate,” he said.
The minister’s statements have sparked further debate about inter-ministerial coordination and the protection of historical sites amid growing private sector involvement in Gambia’s transport infrastructure.
