The Gambia expects to have added about 375 kilometers of paved roads by the end of 2026, at an estimated cost of 10.4bn GMD (€124mn) financed entirely by the government, Finance Minister Seedy Keita said in his October 23 budget speech, Foroyaa reported. President Adama Barrow opened the 91-kilometer Kiang Kabada roads, built by China's Longjian Construction for 1.9bn GMD (€22.6mn), on October 24, The Point and The Standard reported.
Analysis: The program's average estimated cost is about 27.7mn GMD (€0.33mn) per kilometer, by our calculation. Its 10.4bn GMD total is almost twice the 5.28bn GMD planned for government-funded development spending in 2027, though the construction period was not specified. Domestic financing avoids dependence on external lender approvals but places demands on public funds alongside subsidies and debt service. Contractors and suppliers of cement and bitumen may benefit, while transport companies could gain from improved links to the Trans-Gambia Highway. The works ministry's project list could clarify the construction schedule and remaining contracts.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper (Serrekunda), Minister of Finance's 2027 Budget Speech to the National Assembly, October 23, 2026, as reported by Foroyaa (October 23, 2026), Cumulative to end-2026 (expected) and Cumulative to end-2026 (estimate) and January to August 2026; The Point newspaper (Banjul), The Point, 'Barrow opens 91km road network in Kiang Kabada', October 26, 2026, Inaugurated October 24, 2026; Kerr Fatou, Kerr Fatou, reporting the 2027 draft estimates, FY2027; Central Bank of The Gambia (CBG), CBG, Official Exchange Rates for Valuation Purposes, October 27, 2026 (daily PDF), October 27, 2026