By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
In a move reflecting deep-seated frustrations, the Sanyang Development Fund (SDF) and Sanyang UK Association (SUKA) have formally petitioned the Brikama Area Council (BAC) to dissolve the Sanyang Village Development Committee (VDC) chaired by Abdoulie Botto Gaye. The petition, dated July 15, 2025, accuses the VDC of unauthorized engagements with the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), the illicit sale of community land valued at over three million dalasi (D3 million), and other governance failures, citing violations of the Local Government Act 2002. This escalating crisis has sparked widespread concern in Sanyang, a coastal village in Kombo South, West Coast Region, as residents demand accountability and transparency amid the controversial Sanyang Deep Sea Port project.
The petition, spearheaded by Sidat Saidy, Secretary General of SDF, invokes Section 96(1) of the Local Government Act 2002, which empowers the BAC to dissolve a VDC deemed ineffective or not acting in the community’s best interests. Addressed to the BAC and copied to key stakeholders, including the Alkalo of Sanyang, the VDC/WDC Oversight Committee, and the Council of Elders, the document outlines a litany of grievances against the VDC’s leadership. It calls for the immediate dissolution of the current VDC and the appointment of the Sanyang Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) as an interim body to manage village affairs until a new VDC is democratically elected.
Central to the community’s grievances is the VDC’s handling of the Sanyang Deep Sea Port project, a flagship infrastructure initiative led by the GPA and Turkish conglomerate Albayrak. The project, which aims to transform The Gambia’s maritime trade by constructing a $1 billion port capable of handling larger vessels, has been controversial since its announcement. Backed by the SDF and SUKA, residents have accused the VDC of engaging with the GPA without community consultation, raising fears of displacement and loss of livelihoods. The petition highlights the VDC’s alleged acceptance of undisclosed funds from the GPA, a claim that has fueled suspicions of financial impropriety and lack of transparency.
The Sanyang community’s concerns are compounded by the VDC’s reported sale or lease of communal land along the Gunjur-Sanyang Highway to Alagie Conteh for D3 million. According to the petition, this transaction took place without community approval or disclosure, constituting a “significant breach of trust” and potentially an illegal disposition of communal assets. The SDF has repeatedly demanded details of the deal, but the VDC has allegedly failed to provide clarity, further eroding public confidence.
The petition also accuses VDC Chairman Abdoulie Botto Gaye of unilateral actions that undermine community governance. On April 11, 2025, Gaye is said to have dissolved the Deep Sea Port Task Force, a 14-member committee established to oversee negotiations with the GPA, removing key representatives, including Sanyang Ward Councillor Botto Bojang and diaspora representative Dr. Sidi Sanyang. Similarly, the VDC’s dissolution of the TAC, a body designed to ensure accountability, is cited as a deliberate move to evade oversight. The petition claims Gaye openly rejected the Sanyang Community Constitution, which he and the VDC swore to uphold upon taking office in November 2023, calling it a “fundamental breach of their sworn mandate.”
Further allegations include Gaye’s disrespectful conduct toward community members and leaders. The petition references a series of WhatsApp audio messages in which Gaye allegedly made derogatory remarks against the SDF, the Sanyang Diaspora, and village elders. These messages were reportedly prompted by criticism over the VDC’s exclusive crediting of GACH Global Mining for constructing the Sanyang Health Centre Waiting Shed, despite contributions of D55,815.40 from SUKA and D25,000 from Alkalo Lamin Jabang. Such actions, the petition argues, demonstrate a pattern of “insolent, disrespectful, and verbally abusive” behavior that has deepened community divisions.
The VDC’s refusal to convene an Annual General Meeting (AGM), as mandated by a July 14, 2025, BAC directive, is another point of contention. The petition claims the VDC has persistently ignored calls from the Alkalo, Bulunda, and Council of Elders to address these issues, further alienating traditional leadership structures. Additionally, Gaye’s alleged appointment of himself as manager of the Sanyang Eco Lodge and the employment of four to five family members without due process are cited as acts of nepotism and misuse of authority.
The Deep Sea Port project itself remains a flashpoint. Initially, the GPA estimated that 461 properties would be affected, but the Sanyang VDC’s survey suggested a far greater impact, potentially displacing 3,000 properties, including homes, businesses, and critical fish landing sites. Community resistance led to negotiations, culminating in a May 2025 agreement to relocate the port to the less populated Hawaba area, a decision hailed as a rare victory for community advocacy. However, the petition suggests lingering distrust, accusing the VDC of undermining these efforts by engaging with the GPA without a community mandate and hosting an unannounced foundation stone-laying ceremony by President Adama Barrow on July 5, 2025.
The SDF and SUKA argue that the VDC’s actions have created a “vacuum of self-governance” characterized by secrecy and lack of accountability. They propose that the TAC, a body with a track record of ensuring checks and balances, take over interim leadership to restore trust and facilitate transparent elections. The petition emphasizes the need for an inclusive VDC to unite Sanyang and collaborate with stakeholders like the Deep Sea Port Task Force to ensure sustainable development.
The BAC has been given five working days to acknowledge the petition and outline next steps for a formal review. The SDF has offered supporting documentation and testimony to substantiate their claims. As Sanyang stands at a crossroads, the outcome of this petition could set a precedent for community governance and accountability in The Gambia.
The controversy has drawn attention to broader transparency issues in significant development projects. While promising economic growth, the Deep Sea Port has highlighted the delicate balance between national ambitions and local livelihoods. Sanyang’s fishing industry, eco-tourism, and cultural heritage remain at risk, and residents are determined to protect their way of life. The petition underscores the community’s resolve to hold leaders accountable and ensure that development does not come at the expense of their rights and interests.
