|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Claim: A Facebook user shared an image, stating that it is the proposed architectural design of the Banjul-Barra bridge.
Verdict: FALSE. The image was obtained from a website about the commercialisation and the state of a particular bridge in China.
Full Text
One of President Adama Barrow’s promises to the people of North Bank in 2018 was to construct a bridge connecting Banjul and Barra that will last for 50 years. He promised to lay the foundation stone in 2019. However, five years later, the affected community has not seen any foundation or bridge.
While still waiting for the promise to be fulfilled, a supporter of the ruling National People’s Party (NPP), Babucarr Bahoum, posted some photos on his Facebook account claiming those were the designs to build the Banjul-Barra bridge, as promised by the President.
According to him, the bridge’s construction will follow shortly in August after completing a feasibility study and other preliminary works.
He said, “This is the [design] for the Barra Banjul bridge that will start immediately after the feasibility studies are done. The preliminary feasibility study will start by the beginning [of] this month, August.”
On August 26, 2023, the post generated 71 reactions, 55 comments and 25 reshares.
The comment section contained different opinions about the validity of the pictures and the project. Asking if the picture is from the contractor, Sheku Gerewou wrote,
“Serious contractors will create a prototype (blueprint) of their idea, and the government will look at it. If they like it, they will give [it] a green light. If not, they will give their input and suggestions to change whatever.”
Another user, Mamadou Ceesay, urged the poster to desist from misinforming people. He wrote, “This is [the] Hong Kong Macau bridge. Stop lying.”
The disparity of thoughts made us run a fact-check to verify the picture.
Verification
We conducted a Google reverse image search on the picture. We discovered it is originally from an already constructed bridge called the Hong Kong- Zhuhai- Macao bridge, a mega-sized bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau. It is the longest bridge-tunnel sea-crossing system in the world, crossing the waters of the Lingdingyang channel in the Pearl River Estuary. It was officially opened to traffic in 2018.
Additionally, DUBAWA contacted the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure via its communication unit, which debunked the claims, stating that the proposed bridge of Banjul-Barra’s architectural design is not yet out.
Conclusion
The picture used to describe the design stage of the Banjul-Barra bridge is originally from China, not The Gambia. Therefore, the claim is misleading.
