The National Roads Authority (NRA) is invited to participate in the 21st Annual General Meeting of the Africa Road Management Fund Administration (ARMFA) currently in progress in Abidjan from 13th 16th May 2024.

The event is attended by the Managing Director of the National Roads Authority, Mr Ousman Sanyang, accompanied by the NRA Board Chair Ebrima Cham and Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport. Works and Infrastructure (MoTWI) Mr Ebrima Colley.

In 2004, in Cameroon, the ‘Association des Fonds D’entretien Routier Africains’, abbreviated ‘AFERA’, was created. In English, it is known as the Africa Road Management Fund Administration (ARMFA).

The objective of the association is to develop a network for the exchange of experiences and information on the practices of financing road maintenance in Africa and the operation of the funds themselves.

The Gambia is seriously considering setting up a Road Fund Administration (RFA) to help alleviate our funding challenges for road construction and maintenance.

The ARMFA meeting in Abidjan presents the right platform and opportunity to network as well as learn from the experiences and financial challenges faced by other Road Authorities in the continent, where such funds are already established and operational.

Almost all the major international development partners are represented at the meeting in Abidjan.

This provides a good platform and opportunity to explore collaboration and support mechanisms to help finance the set-up of our RFA and get it up and running.

The RFA for The Gambia, when set up, will provide financial security and sustainability to fund road construction and maintenance works.

It will also reduce the burden on the national budget, which is currently the main source for our road maintenance.

The Gambia intends to join the association.