According to sources within the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA), the Managing Director, Ousman Jobarteh, declined to attend the official welcoming ceremony for the “Selimiye”, a newly introduced ferry by Turkish operator Negmar.
According to our sources, the decision may have been driven by concerns over increased competition. The Selimiye, which is expected to offer modern and efficient cross-river transport services, poses a potential challenge to the Gambia Ferry Services — a state-run operation under the GPA’s umbrella.
Sources allege that Mr. Jobarteh views the new entrant as a significant competitor, capable of reducing the revenue and passenger base of the existing Gambia ferry service.