President Adama Barrow has described the completion of the 16-kilometre Bani-Salikeni road and the launch of new road projects across the North Bank Region as a major step towards ending decades of isolation and opening up communities to greater economic and social opportunities.

Speaking on Sunday at a general meeting in Njaba Kunda under the theme “Connecting Communities, Transforming Lives,” President Barrow said the projects demonstrated his government’s commitment to transforming communities through improved infrastructure and better access to services.

The President said the Bani-Salikeni road, which has now been completed and opened to the public, was more than a transport infrastructure project, arguing that improved roads would help expand economic activity, enhance access to social services and strengthen security.

“This series of undertakings is not just about the physical construction of roads; it is about service delivery, conditions of living, and creating avenues for development,” President Barrow said.

He said the completion of the Bani-Salikeni road was a moment for celebration because it demonstrated what could be achieved through determination, unity and a sustained focus on national development.

The President’s remarks came after a busy two-day programme in the North Bank Region during which his government laid foundation stones for several infrastructure projects and inaugurated completed works.

According to President Barrow, foundation stones have been laid for a 100-kilometre road project in Daru Rilwan and Tankonjala, while projects have also been launched in Barra, Bakalarr, Jurunku, Ndugu Kebbeh and Kerr Omar.

He described the scale of activities undertaken within the two days as evidence of the government’s renewed focus on the North Bank, saying the region was receiving unprecedented attention after years of limited development and connectivity.

“The North Bank Region is receiving unprecedented attention from my administration because the people here deserve due recognition, after decades of isolation,” he said.

President Barrow said his administration’s development strategy was aimed at systematically transforming communities across the country rather than concentrating development in particular areas.

He said the projects being implemented in the North Bank were part of a broader effort to fulfil promises made to communities and create lasting opportunities for residents.

Turning to the new road projects in Daru Rilwan and Tankonjala, President Barrow said the foundation stones represented more than the beginning of construction.

He described them as a promise of improved connectivity and greater economic opportunities for residents who have long faced difficulties accessing communities, markets and essential services.

“The foundation stone for this Road Project is a promise of a golden period of connectivity and opportunity,” he said.

The President also urged residents to take ownership of the infrastructure being provided, warning that the sustainability of development projects depended not only on government investment but also on community stewardship.

He said the roads and other infrastructure belonged to the people and future generations, urging communities to protect and maintain them.

“The projects belong to the people of the North Bank, for you and your progeny. I urge you, therefore, to value and utilise them wisely,” President Barrow said.

He stressed that development should be viewed as a partnership between government and citizens, with the state providing infrastructure while communities assume responsibility for protecting and properly utilising public facilities.

“The solution for both parties lies in uniting as one people, one region, and one Gambia,” he said.

President Barrow also placed particular emphasis on the role of young people in taking advantage of the opportunities created by improved infrastructure.

He encouraged youths in the region to become entrepreneurial and innovative, arguing that better roads would create opportunities for new businesses, increased customer access and expanded economic activity.

“New roads bring new businesses, new customers, and new possibilities; therefore, be entrepreneurial and innovative and be the change you wish to see,” he told the gathering.

The President assured residents that the government’s infrastructure programme would continue, saying more roads and bridges were expected to be constructed to connect communities across the country.

He, however, said the inauguration of the Bani-Salikeni road provided an opportunity to pause and recognise the progress already made while appreciating the resilience and patience of residents.

President Barrow commended the National Road Authority and contractors involved in the projects, urging them to maintain high standards and ensure that the infrastructure delivered to communities could withstand the test of time.

The President concluded by calling on Gambians to continue working together in peace, unity and determination, saying the development of the North Bank formed part of the broader national effort to build a stronger and more connected Gambia.

By Adama Makasuba