Opinion: Before spending millions to demolish a mosque, let’s build what truly matters for Gunjur’s people and future
- Gunjuronline.com
- 1 day ago
- 3 min read
As President Adama Barrow allegedly pledges to construct a new mosque in place of the decades-old Gunjur Central Mosque, many in the community are left questioning whether this is truly what Gunjur needs at this point in time.
For generations, the Gunjur Central Mosque has stood as a symbol of unity, faith, and identity, a sacred space that carries deep historical and emotional significance for residents. Its proposed demolition, to make way for a new structure, has ignited public debate across the community and beyond.
While the gesture of building a mosque might seem noble on the surface, many Gunjurians are urging the presidenr to rethink his priorities and focus on the pressing needs of the people.
What Gunjur Really Needs
Cold Storage for Farmers:
Every day, tons of vegetables worth thousands of dalasis perish in Gunjur due to a lack of proper preservation. Farmers need a modern cold storage facility, not another symbolic project.
Modern Fish Processing Facilities:
Fishermen and women working tirelessly along the coastline deserve modern, hygienic fish smoking and drying equipment to improve their earnings and ensure food safety.
Environmental Protection:
The government must take a firm stance against fishmeal factories and the environmental degradation destroying Gunjur’s land and sea.
Land for a Cemetery:
As the population grows, a designated and dignified burial ground has become an urgent necessity.
Accessible Roads:
The women farmers of Gunjur struggle daily to access their gardens. A motorable access road linking the gardens to the community would transform lives.
Vocational Training for Youth:
What Gunjur’s young people need are skills training centers - in mechanics, carpentry, agriculture, and fisheries to create jobs and reduce dependency.
An End to Land Grabbing:
The government must show bold leadership and end the decades-long land grabbing by elites in Kombo and Gunjur.
Unity and Social Cohesion:
Political divisions have eroded Gunjur’s once-strong communal bonds. We need initiatives that rebuild unity and mutual respect among kabilos and families.
Cultural Preservation:
A Gunjur Museum could serve as a center of excellence, celebrating our rich history and honouring the legacies of figures like Foday Kombo Sillah, Nfamara Wassa Touray, Sheikh Hatab Bojang, and Sheikh Omar Bun Jeng. It would also attract tourists and researchers, benefiting the local economy.
What Gunjur Does Not Need
What Gunjur does not need is to spend 10 to 20 million dalasis to demolish a historic and symbolic mosque — one that has stood as a cornerstone of community identity for generations.
True progress is not measured by new buildings, but by how much the lives of the people improve.
Conclusion
As President Barrow offers a new mosque, Gunjur must ask: at what cost?
Our priority should not be demolishing symbols of faith, but building hope, jobs, infrastructure, and unity.
Only then can we say we are truly developing.
Editor's note: The opinions expressed here belong to the author and may not reflect the perspectives of Gunjuronline.com.
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