Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate of Free Movement of Persons and Migration, conducted a monitoring and evaluation exercise from August 14 to 19, 2024, in Wellingara-Ba, The Gambia. The exercise aimed to assess the progress of the Wellingara-Ba Lumo Market project, a significant initiative aimed at transforming the local market into a modern Cross-Border Trading Centre.

The Wellingara-Ba Lumo project is funded by the ECOWAS Commission under the ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Programme (ECBCSP). It is being developed by The Gambia’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, in collaboration with the Mansakonko Area Council. The initiative seeks to enhance cross-border trade and regional integration by upgrading local market infrastructure to support sustainable development and social cohesion.

Mr. Albert Siaw-Boateng, the Director of Free Movement of Persons and Migration at the ECOWAS Commission, led the monitoring and evaluation team on behalf of the Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Mrs. Massandjé Toure-Litse. Mr. Siaw-Boateng commended the project’s progress, highlighting the advanced construction stages of the main structures, the completion of a solar-powered borehole, solar-powered lights, and a perimeter fence as significant milestones. He described these developments as key steps toward the completion of the Wellingara-Ba Lumo Market.

During the site visit, Mrs. Ndeye Taraba Touray, Head of the ECOWAS National Office in The Gambia, briefed the monitoring and evaluation team on the project’s status. She also addressed some challenges hindering the project’s full completion, including the need for additional financing.

The Wellingara-Ba Lumo Market is designed to accommodate fifty market stalls, six toilet facilities (three for males and three for females), and a cold storage facility. The market will serve a growing community, including 250 registered market women.

The ECOWAS Cross-Border Cooperation Support Programme is a multi-sectoral development initiative that supports local communities in border regions. The program aims to enhance social cohesion, promote regional integration, and drive sustainable development. As part of the program, the ECOWAS Commission provided a $100,000 subvention to member states for implementing identified cross-border projects like the Wellingara-Ba Lumo Market.

The project’s completion is eagerly anticipated as it promises to boost economic activity in the region by providing improved market facilities and promoting cross-border trade.