By Haddy Touray
The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment has announced measures to address the temporary shortage of cement in the country, attributing the situation to restricted vessel access at the Port of Banjul.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Ministry said the current disruption stems from reduced draft depth along the port’s access channel, which has limited the ability of larger vessels to berth and offload essential commodities, including cement.
According to officials, several vessels carrying cement remain anchored in deeper waters but are unable to dock due to draft constraints. The Ministry stressed that the situation is “purely infrastructural” and unrelated to government policy on cement importation.
The Government reaffirmed its commitment to its long-standing industrial development policy, which prioritises support for domestic investment, value addition and job creation. The Ministry said the temporary challenges at the port do not alter this policy direction.
Following Cabinet discussions, the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) has pledged to accelerate dredging works on the access channel. The GPA assured authorities that all available resources are being mobilised to complete the dredging “in the shortest possible time,” in order to restore full vessel access and ease congestion.
To provide a more permanent solution, the Government has also initiated procurement procedures to engage a qualified dredging company for comprehensive works on the channel, aiming to prevent future disruptions.
As an interim measure, the Government has authorised contractors implementing major public and private projects to import cement directly through existing Special Investment Certificate (SIC) holders in the cement sector. These SIC holders must apply for clearance from the Ministry of Trade.
The Ministry said mother vessels carrying more than 115,000 metric tonnes of cement are currently at sea and are expected to access the port in the coming days as dredging progresses. It assured the public that all necessary steps are being taken to stabilise cement supply and that normal flows are expected to resume once port operations return to full capacity.
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By Haddy Touray The Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment has announced measures to address the temporary shortage…
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