President Jammeh commissions AU Villas

President Yahya Jammeh yesterday inaugurated the 52 villas of the AU Presidential Village in Brufut, Kombo North.  Built by Taf Holdings Ltd., the 52 palatial masterpieces are located at Sanimentereng (Sacred Site), located on the cliffs overlooking the sea at Brufut.

President Jammeh also commissioned the street lights along the Kombo coastal road.
Speaking at the inauguration of the villas, Mr Lamin Kaba Bajo, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, described the villas as a milestone for the country. He commended President Jammeh for his support to the private sector, and then extolled Taf Holdings for its leading role in the construction industry.

Mr Mustapha Njie, the Chief Executive Officer of Taf Holding Ltd, informed the gathering that the five-month long project started on 15 January this year.  He said people were initially doubtful whether the project would be completed before deadline. "Now that it has been completed, we can safely say that Gambians are indeed very proud and supportive of what their fellow countrymen and women can achieve," he said.

Noting that the feedback on the project has been positive, Mr Njie said the project generated a number of important lessons.  He then commended President Jammeh for the confidence repose in them.  "You have again paved the way for your colleagues by showing an example of how to empower and develop the capacity of the African private sector "  By affording us the opportunity to construct the villas for the visiting African Heads of State, Taf Holding can now change its code name from ‘Operation House the Nation', to ‘operation House Africa'.  We are proud to have built villas that will house Heads of State of every African country,” he said.

Mr Njie then hailed the level of teamwork and spirit demonstrated by workers during the construction period of the project.  He disclosed that the project employed an average of 500 workers and 130 sub-contractors.  

According to him, 95 percent of the workforces were Gambians.  He then expressed his gratitude to the sub-contractors, staff members of Taf Holdings as well as the project partners and suppliers for the successful implementation of the project.

He said: "We believe that these villas are of historic heritage and should be preserved to show future generations that the facilities were provided to house the African Heads of State in The Gambia in 2006."

Mr Njie disclosed that the villas will be sold, following approval by the President.  However, he said that the structures, colour codes, and general layout of the villas will be maintained. Mr Njie then handed over to President Jammeh woodcraft of African map that hooks the keys to the villas.

President Jammeh later embarked on a conducted tour of the villas, accompanied by Secretaries of State, senior government officials and members of the diplomatic corp.

Jerry Ceesay, outstanding employee of the project, was given D25,000 cash prize, while 12 supervisors received D10,000 each. Certificates and plagues were also presented to deserving individuals, including President Jammeh, for their contribution towards the success of the project. Ms Jainaba Jallow, staff of Taf Holdings, delivered a vote of thanks, on behalf of the sub-contractors of the project.

President Jammeh together with his entourage inspected the set up at the main Conference Centre before proceeding to the roundabout, where he inaugurated the streets lights.

Commenting on the street lights project, Ensa Fatou Conteh, Managing Director of Dabanani Electrical Enterprise, said his company has put up all the lighting systems for all the access roads to the villas.  He added that the company also designed and supervised the internal wiring system of the Presidential Villas, as well as the design, supply and installation of power supply and the network system of the villas to ensure that electricity supply is consistent at all times.