Gambian Presidency Takes Over McCarthy Square: Mayor Rohey Lowe Expresses Displeasure, Questions Government’s Motives

The Office of the President (OP) has formally taken over the management and security of McCarthy Square, a historic landmark previously under the jurisdiction of the Banjul City Council (BCC).

The decision was communicated to the BCC in an official letter signed by the Secretary to the Cabinet, citing the government’s financial investment in the recent renovation of the square as a primary reason for the move.

The letter stated, “Following the recent renovation of The McCarthy Square as part of events of the 60th independence anniversary, the Office of The President wishes to notify you of the decision to take over the management and security of the square.

“You may wish to note that the Office of The President spent significant funds to give the square the current facelift, which requires proper management and adequate security to maintain, hence this decision. Please note that an inventory will be made of all movable assets at the Square in consultation with the current manager.

“We look forward to your usual cooperation and thank you for the great work over the years.”

Mayor Rohey Lowe Reacts: “I Am Not Happy About This Decision”

Reacting to the development, Banjul Mayor Rohey Lowe, who is currently out of the country, expressed her disappointment and concern over the government’s decision.

“Honestly, I am not happy about this decision. I cannot understand why again the BCC is targeted for hostility. My council is the only one where staff members have been interdicted even before the commission of inquiry started its work. We were sidelined in the Banjul Roads Project and now this latest move to take the square from us,” she stated.

Mayor Lowe further suggested that she feels unfairly treated by the central government, questioning whether her gender plays a role in the challenges she faces.

“Sometimes I wonder whether it is because of my being a woman that I get all these hostilities from the government. All of these are happening despite the huge respect and courtesy I have accorded the executive. I simply don’t understand and sometimes I even think that one day they will come to take my own office,” she lamented.

The takeover of McCarthy Square marks another flashpoint in the ongoing tensions between the BCC and the central government. While the presidency justifies the move as necessary for maintaining the renovated square, Mayor Lowe’s reaction underscores a broader concern over governance dynamics and political maneuvering in the Gambian capital.