Senior officials of Sound City Production Ltd, a musical promotion company in the country and organisers of the Goudi Ndanaan event to support the HIV/AIDS Trust Fund, Gambian and Senegalese musicians as well as traditional musicians who participated in the event, yesterday met President Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh at State House, Banjul.

The delegation led by Baboucarr Jatta, executive producer and social secretary of Sound City Production and Mabou Touray, proprietor of Sound City Productions comprised of Mam Tamsir Njie, a Gambian mbalax musician, Kawsu Gibba, former National Assembly member for Foni Kansala, Musa Affia Ngum, Jali Mamdi Susso, Papa Samba Diabari Samba, a veteran Senegalese historian, and Thione Ballago Secka, among others.
The aim of the visit was to thank President Jammeh for the support rendered in ensuring the resounding success of the event and to assure him of their fullest support in his treatment programme.

Speaking at the ceremony, President Jammeh commended Sound City production for the initiative in supporting the HIV/AIDS Trust Fund. He briefed them on his treatments saying: “When I announced that I am set to cure HIV/AIDS, the West remained sceptical. This is for the fact that it is free of charge, and they were making millions out it. I will not just sit and say that I can cure HIV/Aids when I cannot. I know what I can do, and if I was not able to cure these diseases, I would not have announced it. So when I started, many people were surprised. I started it by kicking the virus out of the people’s body. I did it successfully and every one has seen it.
Then I went to asthma and it again became a surprise to many. The first day of the treatment started on a day when the sun was hot. People came for the treatment and many seriously suffered because of the hot sun and I treated them immediately and they all walked home themselves. Then I announced that every two months, I will come with a new treatment. Then I also started the diabetes treatment and then moved on to hypertension which I started in Kanilai when I was on leave. So for me, I decided to offer my treatment free but for the drugs from the West, it is too expensive and all cannot afford it. In fact, in the hypertension treatment, there is no comment from the West because they were not making any money out of it,” he said.

President Jammeh then commended Sound City production and all artists who participated in the Goudi Ndanan and assured them of his continuous support.
On the establishment of a national troupe for The Gambia, President Jammeh gave the green light and assured them of his support

Referring to our neighbour, Senegal, The Gambian leader noted that the two countries are historically the same as it is Allah that inter-related us. He added that he told President Wade on several occasions that if he wants us to live together, let him ensure that we have peace.

“I told him I don’t want any conflict between us. So if Senegal has a government that I cannot work with, I will leave them peacefully and pray that Allah will one day show us the reality. So let us try to live peacefully,” he said.

Mrs Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, secretary of state for Communication and Information Technology and chaiperson of the Ministerial Technical Committee on the HIV/AIDS Trust Fund, who chaired the ceremony, paid special tribute to Sound City Production for the foresight in organising such an event. He described them as patriotic Gambians and urged them to continue the good work to complement President Jammeh in his efforts.

Baboucarr Jatta, executive producer and social secretary of Sound City Production on behalf of the organisers commended President Jammeh for the support in ensuring the resounding success of the event. He explained in detail how the initiative came about noting that as Gambians, it is their duty to contribute to the development of the country.

He gave assurances of their readiness to support all sectors of development and paid tribute to both the Senegalese and Gambian artists that participated in the event.
He also announced their preparations to host the World Festival in the country which he added will greatly boost the tourism sector and all other sectors of government.

Samba Jebali Samba, a veteran musician from Senegal also saluted President Jammeh for accepting their participation in the fundraising event. He described President Jammeh as a gifted leader which every Gambian and African should be proud of. He further expounded on the achievements of the Jammeh administration through his visionary and charismatic leadership.

Jali Seikou Saho, a traditional musician on behalf of The Gambian musicians also saluted President Jammeh for his achievements in transforming the country. He called on Gambians to contribute in various ways to the development of the nation.

Marie Saine-Fardaus, secretary of state for Justice, who spoke on behalf of the Trust Fund Committee, commended Sound City productions for the initiative. She called on other patriotic Gambians to come forward and support the Trust Fund. She further commended the artists for their participation in ensuring a successful Goudi Ndanaan.

Dr Malick Njie, SoS Health and Social Welfare, confirmed the success registered by President Jammeh in the treatment of HIV/AIDS, asthma and hypertension.
He then commended President Jammeh for offering his treatments free-of-charge, feeding and providing other incentives to the patients. Dr Njie thanked Sound City Productions and all the artists who participated in the event and assured them of support.

At the end of the ceremony, SoS for Communications and Information Technology, Neneh Macdoul-Gaye, presented a drawing of President Jammeh.