For a country's development to be evidently compelling, her infrastructure cannot be ignored in the overall drive for human and economic development. It is the infrastructure that constitutes the foundation for any serious effort of transforming a nation into what it's intended to become.

One of the most crucial components in a nation's infrastructure is the road. Therefore, it is not surprising to see the Jammeh administration attaching enormous importance to the construction of modern roads, as has been amply manifested throughout the 14 years of the regime.

Building a highly developed model nation on a continent whose progress has been inhibited by 400 years of external exploitation that condemned African people to centuries of backwardness is a mammoth challenge that can only be confronted with renewed energy and vigor.

As in most developed nations in the world today, a visionary leadership is required to lead a nation out of poverty and pathetic stagnation. President Yahya Jammeh has proven to be one kind of a visionary leader, who has placed the interest of his people at the centre of his development undertakings for the past number of years.

A lack of passable roads not only slows down the growth rate of an economy, it endangers public health; it also prevents farmers from transporting their produce to the market, thereby undermining the overall agricultural productivity and economic activity, and more importantly, threatens human survival. Without a good road network, a country cannot simply make any headway and life would become a misery.

Conscious of the artificial realities that had trapped the country in the past, President Jammeh's government set out to revamp the dilapidated roads and opened up an array of new road networks, some of which were presumed to be unattainable. Bridges were built over rivers that were said to have been passages of devils. Streetlights have been erected and the coastal roads lit up to the admiration of all Gambians and visitors.

Recognizing the relationship between transportation and economic vitality, the government of The Gambia embarked on major road projects that connect various parts of the country. The potential economic impacts stemming from highway investments, such as the 168km Kombo Coastal Road are enormous achievements.

It is important to note that these investments traditionally connect markets, alleviate human suffering in traveling, stimulate and attract foreign investment, minimize road accidents and ensure safety for life and goods, discourage rural-urban migration, and restore confidence in investment opportunities.

It is a fact that a country with a well-developed road infrastructure tends to development faster in all sectors than those whose roads are left in ruins. With The Gambia having her roads well-developed, it will have a comparative advantage over many countries around the world, as it could develop faster, by virtue of her geographical location and her highly acclaimed peace and stability, which are a determining prerequisite for any sustainable investment.

Since the advent of the second republic, the country has steadily moved forward to achieve some of her development aspirations, as enshrined in her development blue-print, the Vision 2020. Unlike many countries, development in The Gambia is being decentralized strategically.

Other projects

In recent times, the European Commission project to support the Gambia National Transport Plan has taken off the ground with the signing of a contract with the government. The project seeks to rehabilitate and upgrade the trunk road of Barra-Amdallai (20km), Mandinaba-Seleti (13km), Soma-Basse (193km), Basse-Wellingara (23km) and the Trans Gambia highway (24km).

The completion of these road projects will not only facilitate the movement of people, it will also facilitate the transportation of agricultural products to various markets in the country.

These major development strides remind one of President Jammeh's words of transforming The Gambia into an ultra-modern nation; a city-state that would show the rest of Africa a new model of development that defies the misplaced perception of looking elsewhere for any possible progress.  

With more plans to construct more modern road networks in the country, it is heart-warming to see the creation of the National Roads Authority (NRA), which further pushes the national development agenda forward.

Tasked with the responsibility of planning and constructing road projects in The Gambia, the NRA also has the prerogative to exclusively ensure the upkeep of the road network through general maintenance - road restoration, surface restoration, surface dressing, etc. It appears as if the government is aware of the dangers of leaving our modern roads unattended.

There is no doubt that with time, The Gambia would witness a more robust transformation of its road networks, which will in turn go a long way to promote economic growth and sustainable development.