Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure has strongly denied claims made by United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Lawyer Ousainou Darboe, who alleged that the government had sold the Port of Banjul to the Turkish company Albayrak. In a press release issued on Wednesday, the ministry described Darboe’s statements as “utterly misleading” and accused him of deliberately misinforming the public.

According to the ministry, the concession agreement with Albayrak does not involve the sale of the port but rather aims to enhance port service delivery in The Gambia. The negotiation process, it stated, was conducted transparently with the guidance of an international transactional advisory firm experienced in handling large-scale projects across Europe and Africa.

The ministry criticized Darboe’s characterization of the current management of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), emphasizing that the port has experienced significant growth since 2016. It highlighted that record dividends were paid to the government during this period, with payments increasing from GMD 20 million in 2018 to GMD 190 million by 2021.

The statement outlined several key achievements under the current administration, including the severance of dockworkers under the outdated 1963 Labour Ordinance, salary increments, and the launch of the fourth Banjul Port Development Project. The concession agreement with Albayrak, it added, ensures that the government retains ownership of all fixed assets while the investor bears all financial risks.

The agreement includes a 20% government equity stake in the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) managing the project, a USD 19 million investment over six years to improve efficiency in Banjul, and the establishment of a new deep seaport in Sanyang. The government will also receive a 4% annual share of gross revenue from Banjul port operations, and all existing GPA staff involved in operations will be retained under their current terms.

The ministry further stated that the Sanyang Deep Seaport project will attract larger vessels due to its 12-meter draft, reducing overall business costs. Inland ports in Basse and Kaur will also be developed as part of the project, and local companies will be involved in their management.

Reaffirming that the Port of Banjul remains under full government ownership, the ministry urged the public to disregard what it called “misinformation” from the UDP, stating that attempts to discredit the concession project had “failed flat on the face of the perpetrators.”