Commuters plying the Barra/Banjul ferry routes are sounding the alarm over persistent issues with leftover change at ferry terminals, with many demanding intervention from the Gambia Ferry Service (GFS) to resolve the D5 change disputes that have become a recurring frustration for daily passengers.
The issue, which has been ongoing for years, has left many commuters feeling frustrated and helpless. According to accounts from several passengers, ferry terminal staff often fail to provide the full D5 change due to, citing various reasons ranging from lack of smaller Dalasi notes or their (ticket sellers) wish to pocket commuters’ five Dalasi change.
“I travel from Barra to Banjul almost daily, and every time I pay with a larger denomination, I face the same problem,” said Sheikh Joof, a commuter. “It’s like they don’t want to give us our rightful change. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to forfeit my D5 change just to avoid the hassle.”
Another commuter, Abdoulay Dioup a Senegalese residing in Barra, echoed similar sentiments. “This issue has been going on for far too long. It’s not just about the D5; it’s about the principle. If we pay for a service, we expect to get our change. It’s our right as customers. It doesn’t matter if we have given them big or small money what is required of us is to pay for the fee they are charging. They cannot tell us all the sales they have made on a day they cannot spare the five Dalasi notes for the following day. Why can they contact the Central Bank for support”?
The commuters are now calling on the Gambia Ferry Service to step in and address the issue. “We urge the GPS to look into this matter and ensure that ferry terminal staff provide accurate change to passengers,” said Alieu Njie another commuter. “This is not just about the ferry terminals; it’s about the reputation of our country. We need to provide a better service to our people and visitors. The ferry app sometimes is next to nothing. It took them a whole day sometimes before they switched the app on. What is the essence of creating an app that won’t be functional,” he questioned.
As the situation stands, commuters remain hopeful that the GFS will take concrete steps to resolve the issue. “We want to see action, not just words,” said Fatoumata Ceesay. “We hope that the GFS will take our complaints seriously and fix this problem once and for all.”
