Motorists in The Gambia who paid for aluminium registration number plates in 2025 are reportedly being told they must make fresh payments before the plates can be issued. The alleged directive has led to concerns among vehicle owners, many of whom assert they have already fulfilled their financial obligations for the registration plates but have yet to receive the physical items. Separately, Traffic Police officers are reportedly stopping vehicles that do not display the new aluminium number plates and collecting money from drivers. These actions come amid a broader dispute over vehicle registration fees in the country. The situation has prompted significant frustration and calls for action among the affected motorists.
Enforcement Sparks Outrage
The Gambia Police Force has intensified enforcement efforts targeting vehicles that do not display permanent aluminium number plates. This action by law enforcement comes as motorists report being stopped for not having the new plates. The enforcement drive has seen a notable increase in roadside checks and vehicle stops, impacting daily commutes and commercial activities for many drivers across the country.
Motorists affected by these enforcement measures maintain that they possess valid receipts issued to them after making payment for the new number plates. Many drivers state they have already fulfilled their financial obligations for the registration plates but have yet to receive the physical items. The situation has led to frustration among vehicle owners who face penalties despite having proof of payment. This discrepancy between payment and delivery, coupled with the intensified enforcement, has created a contentious environment on the roads.
Foroyaa, when attempting to gather more information, was unable to immediately obtain comments from officials responsible for the production and issuance of vehicle number plates. The lack of official response leaves questions unanswered regarding the delay in plate distribution and the rationale behind the intensified enforcement against drivers who have settled their fees. Attempts by Foroyaa to contact the Gambia Police Force's Public Relations Officer for comment on the matter went unanswered, further noting the communication gap surrounding this issue.
Motorists' Grievances and Demands
Lamin Manjang, a motorist, reported paying for his vehicle registration plate in November 2025 and receiving an official receipt. Manjang stated that he visited the Number Plates Issuing Department in Banjul, where he was informed that previous payments made in 2025 would not be honored. "We went to the Number Plates Issuing Department in Banjul with my valid receipt, and I was told that all those who paid for their number plates in 2025 should repay, otherwise we will not be given number plates," Manjang explained. He further detailed that he was told the previous contractor was no longer responsible for producing the plates. This information has caused considerable distress among those who believed their initial payments were sufficient. Manjang was specifically informed that motorists who paid in 2025 would have to pay again before the new contractor could print their number plates, effectively invalidating their prior transactions.
Manjang expressed frustration over the situation, stating, "Since February, I have been going up and down for nothing. If I come here, they explain issues that I cannot understand. How can we suffer for something we didn’t do? We were not part of the contract between the government and the previous contractors. If their contract elapsed, why should we suffer?" His sentiments reflect a broader feeling of injustice among motorists who feel caught between contractual disputes they were not privy to.
Another motorist, Musa Jarju, claimed that the police enforcement exercise had disrupted his work. Jarju criticized the government's stance, asserting, "This government is not for the public; instead, it is for itself. Why should we pay again for something that we paid for months ago? If this continues, we are going to mobilize ourselves and protest against this injustice. We will never pay again or let our money go." He added that Traffic Police officers were stopping vehicles on the highway, collecting money from drivers for not displaying the new aluminum plates, citing a directive. This alleged practice of collecting money directly from drivers on the spot has fueled public anger and suspicions of impropriety. Foroyaa attempted to contact the Gambia Police Force's Public Relations Officer for comment on the matter, but calls went unanswered, leaving the allegations unaddressed by official channels.
Calls for Action and Protest
Lamin Manjang reported being informed that motorists who made payments in 2025 would be required to pay again before the new contractor could print their number plates. This directive implies that previous transactions for the plates will not be honoured under the current system, forcing drivers to incur additional, unexpected costs. The situation has led to significant concern among drivers who assert they have already fulfilled their financial obligations. The prospect of having to pay twice for the same service has galvanized many to consider collective action.
In response to the ongoing issue, vehicles have been stopped and subsequently impounded as part of the intensified enforcement exercise by authorities. These actions have further exacerbated tensions between motorists and law enforcement. The compliance deadline for displaying permanent aluminium plates expired on July 20, 2026, adding pressure on vehicle owners to obtain the new registration items. The combination of unissued plates, repeated payment demands, and strict enforcement has created a volatile situation, with motorists threatening to organize protests against what they perceive as systemic injustice.