By Biran Gaye
A staff member of the Gambia Ports Authority (GPA) has rejected claims that this week’s protest at the Banjul seaport was driven by political interests, insisting the action was a legitimate demand for better working conditions and job security.
On Tuesday, 21 April 2026, GPA workers submitted a petition to management, raising concerns over employment security and a lack of transparency in the ongoing transition process at the port.
The protest comes amid a service transfer agreement that will see some port operations move from the GPA to the private contractor, Alport.
Sanna Marong, a GPA staff member and National People’s Party (NPP) youth coordinator for the North Bank Region, told journalists after handing in the petition that the demonstration was not politically motivated, countering remarks allegedly made by Transport Minister Ebrima Sillah that suggested opposition parties were behind the unrest.
“You cannot call us the opposition because we are fighting for our rights,” Marong said, stressing his loyalty to the NPP and President Adama Barrow. He accused both Minister Sillah and GPA Managing Director Jobarteh of prioritizing their own interests over those of employees, alleging that workers facing transfer are being sidelined and their concerns unfairly dismissed as political agitation.
“This is where we get our livelihood, and you want us to be quiet. That is not going to happen,” Marong said.
The protest has heightened tensions at the port as employees and management clash over fears of job losses and lack of clarity in the transition to Alport. Port authorities have not yet responded publicly to the workers’ petition or to Marong’s allegations.
