By Fatou Dahaba
The Minister of Transport, Works and Infrastructure, Ebrima Sillah, announced that the first of two new green ferries procured by the government is in the advanced stages of construction and is expected to arrive by December 2025. The update came during a question-and-answer session at the National Assembly on Wednesday in response to queries from Lower Nuime lawmaker Tamsir Cham.
Minister Sillah revealed that the financing for the second ferry is currently being finalized, with hopes of concluding the deal within six months of the first ferry’s delivery in 2025. He explained that the two ferries are funded differently: the first through an 85% grant from the African Development Bank and a 15% contribution from the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), while the second will be fully financed through credit by the GPA.
Responding to further questions from Fatou Cham, the Sanemengtereng representative, the minister disclosed that the monthly maintenance cost for the Kunta Kinteh and Kanilai ferries at the Banjul-Barra crossing stands at D10.5 million when both are operational. He broke down the expenses, noting that fuel accounts for D7.4 million, spare parts D2.7 million, and the remaining D0.4 million covers lubricants, dredging, and other miscellaneous costs.
Addressing concerns about the current single-ferry operation at the Banjul-Barra crossing, Sillah explained that the Kanilai ferry is undergoing extensive rehabilitation, including replating, repainting, and the installation of four new marine diesel engines. “The four new systems have already been installed, and the remaining parts will be fixed by the end of the month,” he said, targeting the second week of April for the ferry to resume operations. He attributed a two-week delay to a cargo vessel held up in Douala, which had originated from Brussels.
Lawmaker Sulayman Saho urged the minister to keep the public informed about such developments, especially when maintenance timelines shift. Sillah agreed, acknowledging the importance of transparency.
