CDS Yankuba Drammeh and the Governor of CBG Buah Saidy signing the MOU.
By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Central Bank of the Gambia on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) on the Gambia Armed Forces Quick Impact Project as part of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility at the Defense Headquarters in Banjul.
The MOU is in fulfillment of a pledge that the Central Bank of the Gambia (CBG) made to support the men and women in uniform in the Gambia.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Governor of the Central Bank of the Gambia, Buah Saidy, said his institution decided to assist the Gambia Armed Forces through its corporate social responsibility to improve some of its infrastructure.
“The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between CBG and GAF signifies a strong partnership that extends beyond financial support. The commitment from CBG to enhance GAF’s infrastructure is testament to the collaborative spirit aimed at improving both the security and economic stability of our nation. While CBG supports infrastructural development, I want to encourage GAF to strengthen the maintenance of these facilities,” Governor Saidy said.
He said the agreement is a mutual commitment to ensure the long-term sustainability and functionality of these facilities.
“As we move forward with this agreement and other collaborative efforts, it is our hope that it will serve as a shining example of how public institutions can work together in pursuit of national development,” he said.
The Chief of Defense Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), Lieutenant General Yakuba A. Drammeh commended the Central Bank for its timely support. He assured the Central Bank that their pledge would be put to good use.
“Coming up with a Memorandum of Agreement that will shape the future relationship between these two fine institutions, i.e., the Central Bank of the Gambia (CBG) and the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF), we are open to such a Memorandum of Understanding because, basically, your fine institution equally wants to compliment the good efforts of the government in alleviating the living and working conditions of serving members of the armed and security service, which is quite recommendable,” CDS Drammeh said.
CDS Drammeh further called on other institutions to emulate the fine example of the Central Bank. He said making contributions to the security sector will not go in vain.
Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defense, Rohey Bittaye Darboe, highlighted the importance of security force in a country while calling on both the private and public sectors to support them to compliment the government’s efforts.
“The Gambia Armed Forces is here to serve everyone, including the private and public sectors, so anything that you do for them, we are doing it for ourselves because without peace we cannot do anything and the governor made mentioned that. So peace is the prerequisite for development; the same thing applies to security, and that is why any support that we can get from the private and public sectors to complement the government’s efforts is highly welcome,” she said.
The Agreement is in response to a donor conference that was called by His Excellency President Adama Barrow, who is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, in 2022 to raise funds to support the Armed and Security Services, including GAF.