The Gambia Police Force has launched a special security operation on “illegal encroachment” that seeks to clear structures on the highways.

Police spokesman Cadet ASP, Modou Musa Sissaho, said: “Our traffic safety has reached to a point that needs to be looked into because there are so many things obstructing traffic like illegal parking of vehicles and erection of structures like shops and stalls on the highways.”

Meanwhile, president of Gambia Transport Union has welcomed the operation and described illegal encroachment on the roads as against the traffic laws of the country.

Omar Ceesay said the operation will help to address the rise in road accidents in the country.

“This operation is to make sure that any structure on the highways illegally is cleared, so that we can have free movement of traffic,” he added.

The Gambia has recorded more than a 1000 deaths from road accidents between 2020-2022.

According to the Gambia’s ministry of transport, the country lost D2 billion due to road accidents.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba