Africa-Press – Gambia. Passengers aboard a Gambia Transport Service Company (GTSC) bus on Monday, February 16, reported a tense journey from Kanifing to Jarra Soma, highlighting ongoing safety concerns over overcrowding in public transport.
Bakary Jassey, a passenger on the Banjul–Soma route, said the bus, registration number KM 5692 E, quickly exceeded its capacity at the Brikama depot.
“Passengers were squeezed into every available space, aisles were blocked, and luggage piled precariously,” Jassey said, adding that the situation posed multiple risks, including difficulties in emergency evacuation and reduced visibility for the driver.
Jassey boarded the bus in Kanifing at 09:56 a.m. and immediately noticed the hazards. He contacted GTSC via the company’s official number but said the response was “alarming.”
“They told me this was standard practice for normal service buses and that passengers could not be asked to disembark, even when the bus was full,” he said.
The conductor reportedly confirmed that overcrowding was routinely accepted. Jassey stressed that safety should not be compromised, noting that “whether a bus is labeled ‘express’ or ‘normal,’ the laws of physics remain the same.”
He warned that accidents, injuries, and fatalities could be prevented if operational safety was prioritized over convenience.
