GPA STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16TH, 2024 MEET WITH THE DOCK LABOUR COMPANY OF THE GAMBIA

The Strategic Communications Committee of the Gambia Ports Authority under the PPP Concession of the Port Expansion Project, Wednesday October 16th, 2024, resumed its stakeholder engagements with a meeting with Dock Labour personnel at the Dock Labour Company premises in Banjul. The meeting was graced by GPA Managing Director, Ousman Jobarteh, his first since the commencement of the stakeholder meetings. His presence at this meeting indicates a strong acknowledgement on the part of the GPA of the crucial role dock labourers play in the day to day activities of the Port.

The meeting was aimed at providing an overall overview and sharing relevant information relating to the project, and to hear first-hand from dock workers, their concerns regarding the project. They were adequately briefed by Sunkaru Jarju, Chairperson of the GPA Strategic Communications Committee, Binta Samura, Legal Counsel and Matarr Sambou, GPA Economist, who all underscored the project’s expected overall impact on the country’s economic performance. And how stakeholders such as dock labourers can contribute to the successful implementation of the project.

Speaking at the meeting, Ousman Jobarteh, Managing Director of the Gambia Ports Authority, shared the key benefits of the concession for the Gambian economy. Additionally, he gave assurance of job security of dock workers, and improved working conditions under Albayrak. MD Jobarteh went on to explain that one of the highlights of this Agreement is that the Investor bears all the financing risks in terms of the investment that is required to run Banjul Port over the 6-year period and also the Infrastructure that is needed in Kombo Sanyang.

Yahya Gassama, General Manager of Dock Workers, joined other speakers in stressing the importance of the project. And while he acknowledges that there would be challenges because of the change, he enjoins staff to adjust to the change by ensuring that they meet expectations at all times. Staff also took turns asking questions, and raising concerns, while some commended the GPA leadership for the initiative to engage all stakeholders.

Source : GPA