National Assembly Member (NAM) of Banjul Central. Abdolie Njai has expressed concern over the government of the Gambia’s sudden decision to take control of McCarthy Square, a historic public space at the heart of Banjul.
The move, released through a press release from the President’s office, sparked strong opposition from local governments and citizens, and viewed it as an unfounded unfair acquisition of local government property.
Talk about this issue, Hon. Abdolie Njai condemned the decision, saying that McCarthy Square has long been a symbol of civic involvement and joint heritage. He criticized the government’s lack of consultation with Banjul City Council (BCC) and other stakeholders, claiming that this unilateral action violates local government laws that grant councils the authority to manage public assets within their jurisdiction.
“McCarthy Square has been the cornerstone of Banjul’s civic life for generations. However, in recent years, bureaucratic obstacles from the central government have limited the ability to fully utilize the space. The sudden acquisition is about to completely erase local ownership, Njai said.
Hon. Njai emphasized that defending McCarthy Square is not just about land, but also about protecting local governance and community rights, reaffirming his support for the Banjul City Council’s decision to challenge the move through legal means. He urged the citizens to stand together in peaceful resistance to what he described as a clear overreach by the central government.
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“If negotiations prove to be useless, we fully support the Council’s decision to pursue legal action against this move. It is an important defense of our autonomy and our autonomy and democratic principles that govern our institutions. We urge you to recoup McCarthy Square through this decision to secure this symbol to unite, defend, defend, defend, and shake hands, and we urge you to recoup McCarthy Square through unity.
He added that McCarthy Square has historically served as a venue for national celebrations, public gatherings and cultural events, and plays an important role in the social structure of Banjul. The government’s decision to take control of space without clear justification or public consultation has been quoted as saying, as it has raised alarms about increased centralisation of power at the expense of local governance and community ownership.
Hon. Njai also expressed anger, calling on the government to reconsider its stance and respect the decentralized governance framework outlined in the Gambia Act.
