During the inauguration ceremony held at Marakissa near Brikama on Friday, she said: “Government has provided critical infrastructure to unleash the potential of the rural sector in the context of the national policy of promoting broad-based economic and social development in the country. This is part of the plans of the government to connect all major roads within the country with first class road network thereby opening all parts of the country to business and investment opportunities. The road is a 26km stretch with a three-ply cell culvert connecting Brikama to the villages of Marakissa, Darsilami, and Dimbaya constructed at the cost D473,093,176. Development is about improving people’s lives since the construction of this road, the residents have seen a number of positive changes in their lives such as, the improvement of access to market. Government will remain committed to improve the lives of all Gambians by providing them with the basic services. The road unlike some other road projects implemented in the past has been completed in time with no overrun cost. The road was constructed by Arezki Company and funded by Saudi Fund for Development.”
Aminata Siffai Hydara, the governor of West Coast Region said bridges and roads are powerful and important symbols in society because they are signs of economic growth. She stated that people of the area especially women used to struggle to get to their farmlands which has proved to be a dangerous venture. “The construction of the new Marakissa-Busura foot bridge will minimise the dangers of the farming communities undertaking such ventures. The road will also ease access to market for agricultural produce and could also improve agricultural productivity.”
Ousman Badjie, Minister of Works, Transport and Infrastructure advised the users of the road to take good care of the infrastructure. “Three weeks ago I came here on an inspection of the facility and I found plastic bags and sand in the drainage which would eventually block the flow of water.”
Hasan Alattas, director general of the technical department of the Saudi Fund for Development said they admired the tremendous achievements by the government of The Gambia and that Saudi Arabia will continue to cooperate with the country in the implementation of its development projects.
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