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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 27387, member: 2262"] Sports Minister Bakary Badjie told officials his department asked the cabinet to approve selling Friendship Hotel to private business operators. The government opened this hotel in 1983 and has run it itself ever since. Bad management has caused the place to sit empty most nights. The hotel loses around D2 million because it spends more cash than it makes. Badjie brought his plan forward last February because he wanted better professional management for the building. He believes private companies can run the hotel better than government workers ever did. Several government departments joined together to figure out exactly how they should handle this transfer process. Teams from finance, tourism, justice, and stadium management all participate. Brikama South representative Lamin Sanneh disagreed with the minister's plans during their meeting. He asked whether anyone had tried fixing the problems by putting money into improvements instead. Badjie explained that his team looked at every possible solution before deciding private leasing made the most sense. According to their research, renovation costs would reach about D32 million. "Government institutions struggle when managing businesses," Badjie stated during discussions. He pointed out how managers have changed many times over the years without seeing any real improvement. The minister wants the hotel to become successful again under new leadership. However, Badjie never mentioned exactly when the hotel might transfer to private hands under the new arrangement. [/QUOTE]

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