Claim: Bakary Badjie, the Minister of Youth and Sports, claims that KMC has not built a single market, school, or road under the leadership of Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda. Minister of Youth and Sports Bakary Badjie has alleged this.
Verdict: False. Evidence shows that KMC, under the leadership of Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, has built markets, roads, and educational facilities.
Full Text
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Bakary Y. Badjie, has made the headlines for a controversial comment he made about the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC).
Speaking at a recent nationwide constitutional Meet The People Tour in Bakau, Mr Badjie stated that the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC), under the leadership of opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, has not built a single market, road, or school since taking office in 2018.
“Let the current KMC leadership point out a single market, school, or road they built since Mayor Bensouda assumed office in 2018,” he stated. “All the markets, roads, and schools were built by previous mayors.”
Minister Badjie further claims that the council has failed its people, crediting all the developments to previous mayors Abdoulie Conteh and the late Yankuba Colley, both from the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC).
In May 2022, Badjie, while serving as the Minister of Youth and Sports, contested the mayoral seat under the Ruling National People’s Party (NPP), and lost to incumbent Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda. In 2023, after the mayoral election, Badjie also claimed that the council led by Bensouda has not made any meaningful progress since taking office.
This statement has since sparked public discussion about the accuracy of the minister’s assertions, as it could mislead the public and undermine the council’s current development process.
Verification
To verify the authenticity of Minister Badjie’s claim, which has already sparked controversy on social media and in news outlets, DUBAWA decided to investigate and uncover the facts.
DUBAWA had access to various documents regarding developments undertaken by the council over the years, including bank payments to contractors, photographs of development projects, and visited some sites to gather firsthand information.
The researcher reviewed documents showing that the Minister’s statement is false, as KMC has completed several significant projects in the markets, roads, and educational infrastructure sectors.
In August 2022, KMC laid the foundation stone for a modern municipal library, which was completed in 2024, marking the first such project in the council’s history. The library was inaugurated in December 2024, offering a leading serene environment for students and academics within the council, and is named Kanifing.
Under Mayor Talib Bensouda, KMC constructed and inaugurated the Latrikunda Sabiji Market, a double-shed facility with concrete tables, at a total cost of D2.4 million, executed by contractor MJ20.
Images from various projects available online and KMC show that most of the projects have been completed.
The council also constructed the Tallinding Gilifity Kunda Market, funded at D3.8 million and executed by Scope Enterprise, with complete documentation through project records and photos.
These developments clearly contradict the Minister’s claim that KMC has not built any markets. Regarding educational infrastructure, the council has not built a school; instead, it has constructed a modern library for learning.
Although no new schools have been built under KMC, significant investments have been made to improve educational facilities, including the construction of a modern hall at Charles Jaw School, the KMC library, and the new Municipal Town Hall complex.
The Charles Jow Memorial Academy is currently receiving the largest public school hall in The Gambia, supported by KMC account records with D15 million allocated, and if ready, will host 1200 students.
These projects provide substantial support to the educational sector and young educators within the Kanifing Municipality for the first time.
Below is an attachment of the council’s various projects.
In a report published by DUBAWA nine months ago, our investigation reveals that on April 16, 2019, KMC, under Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, commenced construction of a 400-meter Latrikunda-Serrekunda road, which was completed later the same year. This also contradicts the minister’s claim.
KMC account records and project documentation confirm the construction and rehabilitation of multiple municipal roads, improving access and connectivity across the municipality.
Notably, on November 8, 2022, a 15% part payment of D295, 579.87 was made for the construction of the Kotou quarry market.
Additionally, in June 2025, KMC launched a new multipurpose facility in Bakau, worth over D10 million, with a target of 520 beneficiaries, primarily women.
KMC, under the leadership of UDP Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, has made significant progress across infrastructure, education, and cleaning services. The council has also initiated a municipal transport project to address transportation issues, which is currently underway.
Conclusion
Based on evidence gathered, the claim made by Bakary Y. Badjie, the Minister of Youth and Sports, that “the current KMC can’t tell you a single market, school, or road they built,” suggesting that the council has done no such developments, is false.