Africa-Press – Gambia. President Adama Barrow on Saturday inaugurated the newly completed Hakalang Road in the North Bank Region, describing the project as a milestone in his administration’s drive to expand infrastructure and promote inclusive national development.
Speaking at a ceremony attended by local officials, traditional leaders, and residents, Mr. Barrow said the Hakalang project represents “more than a road,” framing it as a symbol of national progress and unity.
“In view of its importance, this infrastructure is symbolically more than a road,” the president said. “It signifies progress, unity, and inclusive development, brought about by a government of the people and for the people.”
The 86-kilometer Hakalang Road links several communities that have long been isolated by poor transport conditions. For decades, residents of Upper Niumi and surrounding districts have struggled with dilapidated roads that hampered access to schools, hospitals, and markets.
“For decades on end, the residents of the North Bank Region (NBR), particularly those in Upper Niumi and nearby districts, had to endure the brutal hardship of isolation and limited access to important social services due to bad roads,” Mr. Barrow said. “Considering the critical size of the Gambian population in this region, my government deemed it morally and economically necessary to fund this entire road project.”
Mr. Barrow said the new infrastructure is expected to spur tourism and economic activity, particularly in historic destinations such as Juffureh and Kunta Kinteh Island—both major heritage sites linked to The Gambia’s transatlantic slave trade history.
The president also used the occasion to highlight the fulfillment of a campaign pledge he made during the 2016 election, when he promised to prioritize infrastructure development in the North Bank Region.
“During the 2016 presidential election campaign, I solemnly promised that, when elected, fixing the infrastructure deficit in the North Bank Region would be my priority. Here we are today,” he said. “For the first time in the history of this region, my government has not only built the Hakalang Roads network but has also provided electricity to numerous communities.”
Mr. Barrow urged residents to take collective responsibility for maintaining the road, describing it as a “national asset” and “a mark of honor” that reflects what citizens and government can achieve together.
“Let us now work together to preserve and maintain this national asset. Cherish it as a mark of honor and an indication of what the Gambian government and citizens can achieve when we unite and act together,” He Said.
Local residents welcomed the project, expressing gratitude for what many described as long-overdue development in the region.
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