Sites for the construction of 75.7km and 4.5KM of GIRAV financed feeder roads in WCR and LRR respectively handed over to the contractors

The Gambia Government on Sunday handed over sites for the construction of 75.7kilo metres of feeder roads in the WCR and 4.5Km of Feeder roads in the Lower River Region to the contractors for the commencement of the construction works.

The roads are part of the 204.7km of Feeder Roads government is constructing across the country with funding from the World Bank through the GIRAV project to help improve rural connectivity and facilitate easy access to markets for agricultural produce and products.

Lot 3 of the feeder roads signed on 9th December 2025 is awarded to SSTP for the construction of eight feeder roads measuring 45.3km.  One of these roads measuring 4.5km is in Jarra Central District, LRR connecting Sare Jamma on the Somma- Basse Highway to the border village of Minna, one of the hard-to-reach communities in rural Gambia. The remaining eight roads measuring 40.8km are in Jarrol, Bondali, Kansala and Bintang Karanai districts in the WCR.

Hon. Seedy Lamin Bah, Governor, LRR presided over the handing over of the roads under Lot 3 to the contractor at a brief ceremony at Sare Jamma village. In his remarks, he thanked President Barrow and the World Bank for the GIRAV approach to development describing it as inclusive. He noted that the roads will not only promote commercial agriculture but will also touch the lives of the people in Minna and the neigbouring settlements. He recounted the hardship they have been enduring to reach Minna village particulary during the rainy season. He advised the contractor to work closely with the local communities.

Governor Bah also encouraged the contractor to engage and empower the youths of the area through employment and thus contribute to poverty reduction and youth migration in the area.

Lamin Dampha, Chief of Jarra Central also thanked President Barrow for the gesture. He said the road will transform lives and livelihoods in the area.

In the West Coast region (WCR), Hon. Ousman Bojang, the Governor, presided over the handling of sites in his region to the contractor for Lot 4 Solo Dabo & SNIAF for the construction of 34.9km Feeder Roads in the region. The brief ceremony held at Somita was graced by Hon. Amie Colley, the National Assembly Member for Foni Berefet and a cross section of the community.

Governor Bojang praised the Gambia Government-World Bank partnership in the guest to transform agriculture and rural lives and livelihoods. He spoke at length on the importance of the GIRAV intervention and enjoyed the contractor to deliver quality roads within the stipulated time frame. In his remarks, the Contractor Solo Dabo promised to measure up to expectations.

Hon. Amie Colley, the National Assembly Member for Foni Berefet thanked President Barrow for the gesture and called on the people of the region to rally behind him for national development.

Mr. Abdoulie Touray, Coordinator of the GIRAV project and the CPCU speakin at both ceremonies explained that the GIRAV project is part of government’s effort to transition the country from subsistence to market-driven agriculture. He said the project is establishing 40 modern gardens dubbed Agribusiness firms of which 20 are women-led and 20 are youth-led with the aim of promoting youth and women empowerment and livelihoods enhancement for shared prosperity and economic growth. He also highlighted the impacts of the GIRAV support through it Seeds Programme and the Matching Grants Scheme on lives and livelihoods across the country.