By Omar Bah
Ousman Jobarteh, the Managing Director of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), has robustly defended the transparency of the Banjul Ports Expansion Project in response to criticism regarding the project’s awarding process and agreements with Albayrak, a Turkish company. Jobarteh emphasized that the $20.56 million initiative strictly adhered to rigorous bidding protocols and met international standards.
Jobarteh provided a detailed account of the competitive bidding process. The Ports Expansion Project was initiated through an international bidding process, which attracted submissions from nine international port operators and one local company. These submissions were evaluated according to established protocols. He highlighted that after a thorough assessment, three companies—Red Sea Gateway Terminal of Saudi Arabia, Yilport of Turkey, and Albayrak—were shortlisted, with Albayrak ultimately chosen based on its strategic proposal addressing Banjul’s needs and future deep seaport plans. Jobarteh also emphasized that legal, due diligence was carried out through Mia Browne, a UK-based legal firm, reinforcing the project’s transparency and alignment with GPA’s guidelines.
Regarding the benefits and challenges, Jobarteh underscored the economic impact, stating that the Banjul Ports Project is vital for The Gambia’s economy and aims to enhance the port’s capacity and efficiency. The expansion will position The Gambia as a competitive transit hub in West Africa, facilitating increased cargo handling and reducing sea freight costs.
The project objectives include:
– Extending the pier
– Expanding the container terminal
– Developing logistics platforms to boost The Gambia’s regional trade competitiveness
Jobarteh also highlighted the issue of job security, ensuring that all current port staff will retain their positions, and that new infrastructure will create new job opportunities.
