Information Minister Dr Ismaila Ceesay has accused Kanifing Mayor Talib Bensouda of failing to deliver on major promises made to residents of the municipality, questioning his suitability to lead the country.

Speaking during a radio interview on Coffee Times , Ceesay said Bensouda made several commitments after becoming mayor in 2021 but failed to fulfil them.

“Failed woefully? Yes, of course,” Ceesay said when asked about his assessment of Bensouda’s record.

Ceesay cited a number of commitments he said Bensouda made, including plans to introduce a municipal urban transport system with 50 buses over five years.

“Not a single, not even a KK,” Ceesay said, referring to a tuk-tuk, arguing that no municipal transport vehicle had been delivered under the pledge.

He also accused Bensouda of failing to deliver on a commitment to distribute 10,000 waste bins across the Kanifing Municipal Council area.

Ceesay further claimed that Bensouda had promised to construct 38 kilometres of roads connecting wards across the municipality but said the commitment had not been fulfilled.

“He said he will build 38 kilometres of roads connecting every ward in the municipality over the next five years. Zero. Not even, what is the meaning? Not even a metre was built,” Ceesay said.

Bensouda has previously faced criticism over the challenges confronting the municipality, while his supporters have attributed some difficulties to constraints involving central government.

Ceesay rejected that explanation, accusing the mayor of blaming the government for his failures.

The minister also questioned Bensouda’s handling of sensitive information, alleging that the mayor disclosed details of a private meeting with the EU ambassador.

Ceesay said such conduct raised concerns about Bensouda’s judgement and suitability for higher office.

The Information Minister also challenged several statements he attributed to Bensouda on the country’s population, political history, security and energy sector.

Ceesay defended President Adama Barrow’s record, citing developments in roads, electricity, water, education and other sectors.

He argued that Bensouda should first account for his record at municipal level before presenting himself as capable of transforming the country.