By Yero S. Bah
Since the outbreak of the 2019 coronavirus disease, infamously called COVID-19, in the Gambia, individuals, companies and organizations had been donating both cash and food or sanitary items to central and local government authorities throughout the Gambia.
Among the benefactors was the Gambia Bankers Association (GBA). Through the Gambia Association of Local Government Authorities, in short GALGA, the bankers’ grouping presented an amount of D800,000 to the eight (8) Regional Administrations in the country.
The GBA representative, Alhaji Jeng handed over the donated cash to the President of GALGA, who doubles as the Chairman of Mansakonko Area Council, Mr. Landing Sanneh, who in his statement, hailed the excellent working relations that exist between Banks and all the regional councils. He explained that the amount was to be distributed evenly to all councils as their contribution to the fight against the Covid19 pandemic.
Speaking at the ceremony which took place at the Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) Chambers in Kanifing, Chairman Sanneh pointed to the proactive strides taken by all regional councils to curb the deadly virus, despite their meager resources. He used the moment to call on development partners to support the councils in their efforts to support vulnerable families, irrespective of where they live in the Gambia.
In a separate but similar event, Helping Hands Gambia, composed of mainly Indian businesses, last month donated 550 bags of rice towards KMCs 10,000 household food aid programme with a #StopCovid19. Other speakers at the ceremony were the Deputy Mayor Musa Bah, and the Council’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mrs. Sainabou Martin-Sonko.
Meanwhile, similar gestures had been extended to the Basse Area Council as its Vice Chairman received 5 spraying tanks from KMC, through the CEO, in the fight against COVID-19.
As part of the ongoing crusade against the ravaging virus, the General Council and its Management on Wednesday, 13 May, 2020 took delivery of a financial support from Gambia National Insurance Company (GNIC), in the sum of One hundred thousand dalasis (D100,000.00). The money is meant to support Council during and after COVID-19 and also the market fire disaster victims.
According to the Association Marketing Manager and head of branches for Gambia National Insurance Company (GNIC), Mr. Abou Ceesay, it’s their corporate social responsibility (CSR) to give back to the people, reminding that they have been donating to the people of URR long time ago.
In addition, GNIC also presented D180,000.00 to a victim of the Basse Market fire incident who was insuring with the Company as a businessman.
In the same spirit, Hope 19 Wisconsin the Gambia had also presented foodstuffs to the Brikama Market fire outbreak victims. The presentation held at the site, was attended by officials of the Brikama Area Council and its local market committee; Country Coordinator of Hope 19 and team, victims and cross-section of vendors.
The presented food stuff were, 30 bags of rice 25kg, 8 bags of sugar, 5 bags of potatoes, 10 bags of onion for an onward delivery to the victims.
The council also distributed 1,860 bags of 25kg rice among its Ward Councillors for an onward delivery to low income households within their respective wards.
The gesture formed part of council’s commitment in responding to means of containing the spread of coronavirus.
In North Bank Region, Kerewan Area Council had handed over a certificate of appreciation to Save Hand for Girls under the leadership of Jaha Dukureh for donating 325 bags of rice to the most vulnerable households in Upper Niumi District, through the Regional Youth Council.
In another development, as per the information on the facebook page named “Councilor for Kerewan Ward”–which was created to bring the people of Kerewan ward closer to their representative and the Council’s Projects–the Kerewan Area Council had recently presented 800 bags of 25kg rice and vegetables to the region; courtesy of GCCI’s donation of D200,000; Bankers Association-D100,000 and TAF’s D50,000. The ceremony was graced by the Chairman Malamin IL Bojang, the CEO Seedy K.Touray, Ward Councillors of the region, and the NDMA.
The Area Council, the information had, also contributed D318,000 to supplement the donors’ effort; and that each councilor received 50 bags of rice and vegetables.
The said Council is also reported to have spent D168,000 out of the budget to support women gardeners in the region, “whose produce are perished in their hands without market due to the lock down”.
It has been disclosed also that more than D500, 000 was spent in total, to support of families seriously affected in the region.
“Remember the council is aware of the social distancing and hand washing as preventive measures,” the ward Councillor stated.
Still on largesses, the Award Councillor’s page indicated the Kerewan Area Council was honoured to receive 35 bales of secondhand used clothing through the nominated business representative of the Council, Hon. Salifu K. Jaiteh.
Noting this is second time the Baddibou-born citizen is donating to the Council, the Councillor recalled the first time was D50,000 dalasis for the renovation of Njaba Kunda Health Centre.
“The bails will be distributed through the various wards, nominated and lady councillors to their intended beneficiaries. K.A.C is indebted to you, Honorable Jaiteh.”
The Turkish Karpowership in the Gambia [the supplier of 30 MW into the Gambia’s national grid for two years] on 14th May 2020, at Mansakonko Area Council (MKAC) grounds, handed over sixty two (62) bags of 50kg of rice and sixty-two(62) bags of 50kg of sugar to MKAC, as part of their support to that Council’s food support initiative for the vulnerable communities in Lower River Region (LRR).
The said food items were delivered to the Chairman of the Council Mr. Landing B. Sanneh, by the Karpowership Project Manager in the country, Mr. Yankuba Mamburay.
In a similar engagement at the Council premises, the Anti-corruption team had also donated sanitary materials and radios as well as face masks towards the COVID-19 prevention campaign in Lower River Region.
Chairman Sanneh welcomed them to the Council and disclosed that the Council has medium and long-term plans to maintain MKAC food support initiative even beyond the COVID-19 era, so that the Council would be able to provide the necessary support to the people of the Local Government Area (LGA). He thanked Karpowership and Anti-corruption for the remarkable support. Chairman Sanneh reassured that the donated items would serve the intended purpose.
Meantime, the latest information Mansa Banko Online editors obtained from the city, showed that Banjul City Council (BCC), under the leadership of Mayor Mrs. Rohey Malick Lowe, had “received a total number of 2822 COVID-19 food assistance coupons from the Government of the Gambia to the households in Banjul”.
The Coupons received, as per the information available on the City Council’s facebook page, are categorized by Central Government according to Constituencies.
These are:
Banjul South 1012
Banjul Central 1116
Banjul North 694
The onward distribution of these Coupons to families will be made by the Civil Society Organisations in Banjul, the BCC informed.
