The Jammeh Foundation for Peace (JFP), under the leadership of Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, vice president and secretary of state for Women’s Affairs, yesterday, disbursed two million, one hundred and fifty six thousand, four hundred dalasis (D2,156,400) to 15 beneficiary groups, in a presentation ceremony held at the Office of the Vice President at State House, Banjul.

The amount was said to be the proceeds gained from the Amsterdam-Dakºar Challenge and the Anterwp-Banjul Challenge. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Vice President  Njie-Saidy said the money came from the donors (Amsterdam-Dakar and Anterwp-Banjul Challenge), and that the donors had chosen for themselves the projects they wished to sponsor.

According to her, JFP had fulfilled its promise by presenting the amount.  She added that it is now the duty of the beneficiaries to put the money to good use. Dr Njie-Saidy seized the opportunity to thank the donors for their invaluable contribution towards all development sectors in The Gambia, and  advised the beneficiaries to use the money purposefully.

For his part, Ansumana Jammeh, executive director of JFP, advised the beneficiaries against diverting the money to their individual accounts, reiterating that the donations were meant for the whole of the identified groups. According to him, JFP will have a monitoring team whose members will visit project sites to see whether the monies are being used for their purpose or not.

The JFP boss finally thanked the donors for their help in complementing the government’s efforts in national development. Ardy Sarge, the chairman of the JFP fund-raising committee, said the foundation is here for Gambians and non-Gambians alike.  He revealed that many students are benefitting from the foundation.  He thanked the Gambian leader, Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, for setting up the foundation, and commended the vice president for her support.

Lamin Jammeh, one of the beneficiaries - who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, expressed delight with the benevolent gestures. He thanked President Jammeh for his untiring efforts in developing The Gambia and also promised JFP that the money will be put to good use.

At the end of the ceremony, the 15 beneficiary groups were presented with cheques as follows: Tumani Tenda Development Funding received  D90,900; D26,100 was presented to a banana plantation project in the Upper River Region; D359,100 went to the Kambengo Foundation; D81,000 to the Nice To Be Nice project; D43,200 to the Hand To Hand project; D47,700 to the Maren School Foundation; D62,100 tor Hat House project; D58,500 to The Foundation for Health Care in Kartong; D16,200 to the Children of The Gambia project; D223,200 to Pika Nursery School; D36,000 to Women’s Advancement Foundation; D117,900 to the Pirang Women’s Garden Kafo; D64,800 went to JFP; D206,100 went to the SOS Children’s Village in Sinchu Alhagie; and D129,600 was presented to NEDY.

In a similar engagement, the vice president, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, also received in her office, Richard Leon, a British philanthropist representing the George Town Trust and Lions of Chance Organisation. Speaking at the ceremony, Richard Leon told the vice president that his mission to State House was to present an ambulance to the Jammeh Foundation for Peace on behalf of the Lions of Chance Organisation.

He revealed that he first came to The Gambia five years ago. He also disclosed that it had taken him three weeks to drive the ambulance from England to The Gambia. He added that the George Town Trust in UK is sponsoring about 230 students at the Armitage Senior Secondary School in Janjangbureh, Central River Region, and 11 students at the University of The Gambia.

In response, VP Njie-Saidy said the government of The Gambia values the benevolent gesture from the donors, and expressed hope that the organisation will serve as a goodwill ambassador for JFP in the UK. The vice president highlighted the great importance President Jammeh attaches to the health sector. She also appealed for a utility vehicle for the JFP.

VP Njie-Saidy thanked the donors for complementing government’s efforts in national development. Speaking earlier, Ansumana Jammeh, executive  director of JFP, thanked the donors for supporting his institution. He said the JFP is heavily investing in the agricultural, educational and health sectors of the country. He expressed delight at receiving the gesture, describing it as timely.

Ardy Sarge, for his part, thanked the donors on behalf of the president, First Lady Madam Zainab Jammeh, Vice President Njie-Saidy and JFP.  Kebba Manneh, chief executive officer (CEO) of JFP Hospital in Bundung, also thanked the donors for the gesture. Both ceremonies were chaired by Sulayman Badjie, deputy director of JFP and were attended by the JFP board members.