By Assan Bah
Residents of Old Yundum Constituency have appealed to the government to build a hospital, develop football stadiums and resolve long-standing land disputes in Jabang, as they called for further investment in roads, public safety and community facilities.
The requests were made on Thursday, 15 October, during a joint meeting of residents of Busumbala and Old Yundum constituencies in Jabang, held as part of President Adama Barrow’s Meet-the-People Tour.
The meeting brought together cabinet ministers, government officials, local authorities, women, young people and political representatives, who used the gathering to outline the needs of their communities.
Opening the meeting, Jabang Alkalo Gibiril Colley called for improvements to the Sare Pateh–Coastal Road, the Jabang–Labakore Road and the IG Junction–Yuna Road. He said upgrading the roads would ease movement between communities and improve access for residents. Mr Colley also called for speed bumps along the road from the forest to the town to help reduce the risk of accidents.
The Chief of Old Yundum, Ousman Gaye commended President Barrow for what he described as his commitment to national development and his leadership under democratic governance. He also welcomed the government’s land policy, saying it could help address the frequent disputes brought before traditional leaders.
“Ninety-nine per cent” of cases handled by chiefs in Kombo relate to land disputes, he said, arguing that the policy could help reduce such conflicts.
Chief Gaye further called for the localisation of the government’s Bantaba programme, urging that it be placed under the management of local authorities.
The need for a hospital emerged as one of the main concerns raised at the meeting.
Mrs Jack Ceesay appealed to the government to build a hospital in Old Yundum, saying the community had already allocated a 100-by-200-metre plot of land for the facility.
“Old Yundum has 14 big villages and there is no hospital here. Women go all the way to Bundung or Faji Kunda for their deliveries,” she said.
She urged the government to intervene swiftly, saying a hospital would help residents access healthcare closer to home.
Mrs Ceesay also called for a larger allocation of land for women gardeners at the Wellingara agricultural centre. She said some women had to travel as far as Lamin to secure plots for gardening.
Youth representative Babou John also called for a hospital, alongside better roads and appropriate speed bumps to improve road safety and prevent accidents.
He urged the government to provide young people with a football field where they could engage in sports and other recreational activities.
Mr John also appealed to the Ministry of Lands and Regional Government to take stronger action to settle persistent land disputes in Jabang.
He said the village had a long history and called on the authorities to help resolve the disputes permanently.
“Jabang is not a young village in the country. We are therefore calling on authorities to help us resolve this land disputes once and for all,” he said.
The appeal reflects continuing concerns among residents over land ownership and the need for effective intervention to prevent disputes from becoming more complicated.
Community opinion leader Yusupha Gomez called for the construction of standard mini-stadiums in Lamin and Busumbala, saying land had already been allocated for the proposed facilities.
“A land has already been provided in Lamin and we believe government will develop it into a standard football field like O.J. Jallow Memorial Field in Bakoteh,” he said.
Mr Gomez also called for feeder roads in New Yundum and the Busumbala area to improve mobility and bring road infrastructure in line with other parts of the West Coast Region.
He further urged the government to redevelop the Busumbala Community Mixed-Farming Centre to support agricultural activities and local livelihoods.
The National Assembly Member for Old Yundum Constituency, Abdoulie Ceesay, reinforced the call for a hospital and appealed for a fire station in Old Yundum.
He also called for streetlights along the Jabang Highway to improve visibility and security for residents and other road users.
Despite their concerns, speakers at the meeting acknowledged government projects, particularly road construction, which they said had improved mobility and supported economic activity in their communities.
Addressing the gathering, President Adama Barrow reaffirmed his government’s commitment to continued infrastructure development across the country.
He said national development remained a central responsibility of his administration and pledged to pursue further improvements in communities.
The president also urged residents to prioritise peace, cooperation and national development.
The meeting provided residents with an opportunity to present their concerns directly to the president and his government, with calls ranging from healthcare and sports facilities to road safety, agricultural support and the resolution of land disputes.