by Mariatou Ngum and Abdou Mbaye
The Vice President, His Excellency Mohammed B.S. Jallow, on Tuesday 28th July 2026 conducted an impromptu inspection of the fish smokehouse under construction at the Banjul Fish Market to assess progress on a facility being built for the women fish processors of Banjul.
Speaking to OVP Media during the visit, Vice President Jallow recalled that President His Excellency Adama Barrow pledged to construct the smokehouse during a previous Meet the People Tour in Banjul. He noted that women fish processors have for years worked under difficult conditions, smoking fish in unsuitable environments, and said the new facility is intended to address those challenges.
“I decided to make an impromptu visit to see how the project is progressing,” the Vice President said.
Assessing the project, Vice President Jallow described the smokehouse as a significant intervention that will provide the women with a safe, modern, and dedicated workspace. He explained that the project is being financed through an innovative public-private partnership rather than direct government funding.
“If you recall, the President adopted a novel financing approach. Instead of relying on government funding, we invited private sector companies and government institutions within Banjul to contribute towards the project. They are the ones who have provided the resources for this structure. We particularly appreciate the contribution of major private sector players such as Shyben Madi & Sons,” he said.
Hawa Bojang of Krubally Construction briefed the Vice President on the progress of the works, expressing confidence that the project would be completed within the next one to two weeks, subject to favourable weather conditions.
Vice President Jallow expressed satisfaction with the pace of construction and voiced optimism that the facility would be completed on schedule, providing much-needed relief and improved working conditions for the women fish processors at the Banjul Fish Market.
