By Adama Makasuba
Aba T. Hydara, a prominent heritage activist, has vehemently criticized the Gambian government’s decision to allocate the Fort Bullen site to the Turkish investment group NEGMA to construct a ferry landing. He has indicated his intention to file a lawsuit against the government at the ECOWAS Court, asserting, “If this issue is not resolved, I will seek legal recourse, whether within the country or at the ECOWAS Court.”
In defense of its decision, the government claims that the ferry landing, which will operate around the clock, is intended to alleviate the challenges associated with the river crossing between Banjul and Barra.
However, Mr. Hydara has branded the allocation as “illegal and non-transparent,” highlighting that the local community was excluded from the decision-making process. “This allocation lacked transparency because it was not made public,” he stated, reinforcing, “It is our heritage, as enshrined in Article 27 of the Fundamental Human Rights, that grants us the right to our culture.”
He further noted that the Barra community has not benefited from Fort Bullen’s resources. “All proceeds from Fort Bullen are directed to the National Centre for Arts and Culture, and not a single percentage is returned to the Barra community for waste management and upkeep,” he remarked.
Mr. Hydara elucidated that the community had plans to develop Fort Bullen into a tourism hub that could generate funds to address local challenges. “We envisioned establishing a wrestling arena there, enabling us to generate income which could be used to pay individuals for collecting waste materials in Barra, as the Area Council has not been fulfilling this responsibility and no corporate entity has stepped in to assist,” he added.
He dismissed assertions that the Barra elders had been consulted about the Fort Bullen allocation, labeling those claims as “incorrect.” He further stated, “It’s not legal because this is a public space; therefore, it is not within the purview of the people of Barra to decide on its allocation. This area is designated as public, protected by a gazette.”
