Gambiaj.com – (NIAMINA EAST, The Gambia) – Former United Democratic Party (UDP) Niamina East constituency candidate Madi Ceesay has joined the National People’s Party (NPP), announcing his decision during President Adama Barrow’s ongoing nationwide development tour.
Ceesay made the announcement at the White House in Mankamang Kunda following a meeting with President Barrow, marking a political shift ahead of the December 2026 presidential election.
His move to the NPP comes as President Barrow’s nationwide tour enters the Upper River Region (URR), where the President is inspecting development projects and engaging communities across the region.
New Governor’s Office and Residence
In Basse, President Barrow officially handed over the newly constructed URR Governor’s Residence and Office, a facility intended to strengthen governance and improve service delivery at the regional level.
Barrow said Governors play an indispensable role in local administration, describing them as an important link between the central government and the people.
The new facility is expected to provide the Governor with a more suitable working environment and enhance coordination between regional authorities and central government institutions.
Roads and Infrastructure
During the tour, President Barrow also inspected the 12.18-kilometer Manneh Kunda–Demba Kunda–Numuyel Road on Thursday, 13 August, as part of the ongoing 74.5-kilometer EPC Lot 1 Roads Project in the URR.
Construction is also advancing on several other roads across the region.
On the Basse–Dampha Kunda–Tambasansang Road, foundation and drainage works have been completed, while construction of the concrete road is progressing.
Work is also continuing on the 27-kilometer Sutukoba–Chamoi Bunda Road, where groundwork is nearing completion and drainage works are underway.
Construction is similarly progressing on the Santusu–Basse–Manneh Kunda stretch, with contractors preparing the roadbed, laying the foundation, and beginning concrete works.
Garawol Road Project and Healthcare Support
President Barrow later traveled to Garawol in the Kantora District, where he inaugurated a six-kilometer road and laid the foundation stone for an additional 24-kilometer road project.
Garawol is a major settlement whose residents depend heavily on farming for their livelihoods. Improved road connectivity is expected to make it easier for farmers to transport agricultural produce and livestock to markets in Basse and other areas, potentially reducing post-harvest losses and improving household incomes.
At a joint meeting in Garawol, President Barrow also handed over an ambulance to the Suduwol community to strengthen access to emergency and other healthcare services.
The development tour combines infrastructure inspections, project handovers, and community engagements, while Ceesay’s defection to the NPP adds a political dimension to the President’s ongoing engagements across the country ahead of the 2026 presidential election.
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