Here we go again…
Senegalese president, Macky Sall is weirdly trying to take credit for the Trans-Gambia Bridge, which is expected to be inaugurated this month.
Information reaching What’s On-Gambia revealed Macky, who is seeking re-election, is boasting that the bridge is one of his government’s major accomplishments.
An insider at the Ministry of Transport, Works & Infrastructure in Kanifing said: “Senegal contributed only 0. 69% of the total cost, but the narrative they are putting out there is that they financed the whole bridge.”
He added: “The total cost of the project, including contributions from the two governments is 67.36 million US Dollars. This cost estimate is based on the detailed design studies of the project as well as international norms and average unit prices for the works and services.
“The bridge was in plan since 1974, but Sir Dawda wasn’t keen. The project was restudied after the military coup, but it was in 2011 when the two countries finally agreed to construct the bridge.”
According to him: “It’s Macky’s idea to inaugurate the bridge on the 21st January, 2018. He wants it opened before the Senegalese presidential elections. They would only allow light traffic on it. To be honest, I don’t know their definition of light traffic. This was entirely Macky’s decision.”
The main objective of the Trans-Gambia Bridge project is to facilitate overland traffic flow between the northern and southern parts of both The Gambia and Senegal, and by extension among the ECOWAS member states.
The bridge is also expected to improve transit and accessibility of the communities in the project’s zone of influence to markets and other social-economic activities.