Gambia: MOYS hands over D17.2M contract for Stadium refurbishment
By Own Correspondent – Minister of Youth and Sports Sheriff ML Gomez yesterday presided over the handing over ceremony of a D17.2 million contract to Dabanani Electrical Company for the refurbishment of the Independence Stadium electrical site.
After months of thorough observation of the overall structure of the country’s only stadium, which led to some rehabilitation of the pavilions, the youth and sports ministry deemed it necessary to also engage the electrical companies to give the stadium’s lighting system a new lease of life.
Sheriff Gomez, who gave a statement at the signing ceremony held at the Independence Stadium, thanked and appreciated the Gambian leader, President Jammeh, for providing the D17.2 million for the refurbishment of the stadium’s electrical site, which has been in a poor condition over the last few years.
“It is important to indicate that the project is part of our efforts in paving the way for a total maintenance of the stadium, which is 27 years old,” said the youth and sports minister.
The comprehensive plan, according to Gomez, will include the scoreboard digital light to give the whole structure a new lease of life in a bid to attract or inspire more people in terms of attendance, marketing, and sponsors.
“This must be viewed as a national endeavour to ensure that nobody is left behind for the realisation of this important project,” Gomez said.
He also said he would like the impasse that led to the calling off of the GNOC election to become a thing of the past.
“I hope and pray that all parties concerned can overcome the impasse at the GNOC so as to settle our difference for the way forward of sports in The Gambia,” Gomez concluded.
The general manager of the Independence Stadium, Musa Njie, who also spoke at the ceremony on behalf of the stadium management, said he was “extremely delighted” about the project.
“As far as FIFA is concerned, the lighting system of any stadium is significant,” he added.
Njie further assured the Dabanani Company that they would work closely with them to ensure the project becomes a reality.
“We have found out that the existing board is spoilt so we have proposed a complete replacement of the scoreboard,” Njie told reporters.
The general manager of Dabanani Electrical Company, Alagie Conteh, commended the ministry for awarding his company the project and promised to do a “very good” job as expected.
The refurbishment project at the Independence stadium, according to Mr Conteh, the project contractor, includes the tract and field lighting system, the main power distribution panel, the refurbishment of the floodlight towels, and the associated civil works in the sub-station and control rooms.
Dabanani Electrical Company is a Gambian company owned by Alagie Conteh. The company was established in 2001 with a sound record of accomplished electrical works, such as the 1st phase of the Rural Electrification Project, the
AU Summit street
lights project, the Trade Gateway project, the Central Medical Store project and a host of other projects in the country.
AU Summit street
lights project, the Trade Gateway project, the Central Medical Store project and a host of other projects in the country.
