GTUCCU Holds 10th AGM

By Amie Jobe

The Gambia Teachers Union’s Cooperation Credit Union (GTUCCU), on 9 June 2007, held its 10th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the GTU headquarters in Kanifing to review the union’s performance for 2006, revisit minutes of the previous AGM and deal with some issues relating to the Board.

The AGM, which brought together members of the credit union, partner credit unions, cabinet members and many other personnel, also discussed the theme "Credit Unions Making a World of Difference".

Speaking on behalf of the general manager of NACCUG, the Officer-in-Charge, Mr. Nuha Sanneh, said credit unions are democratic financial cooperatives that have no customers but shareholders like teachers.

He added that NACCUG was satisfied with the level of growth registered by the GTUCCU membership saving loans.

"The leadership of GTUCCU is one that is action-oriented. They have exhibited a sense of responsibility in ensuring that excellent growth is registered with a short life-span," Mr. Sanneh said.

He also noted that more efforts should be directed to membership education, especially in the area of governance.

Delivering his statement on the occasion, the GTU President, Mr. Omar Ndure, said the AGM is the highest decision making forum of the GTU’s credit union and it treats fairly issues brought before it.

He added that people should be interested not only in the financial reports but also on all the issues that impact on the progress of the credit union.

"Your activities must be visible to credit union members as this is the prime indicator for transparency and accountability," he said.

He disclosed that the credit union has over the years put together resources to be able to build their own headquarters, adding that no matter how beautiful and comfortable the teacher edifice would be, it will be meaningless if it is not complemented with the requisite services beneficial to the members.

The GTU, he said, has been known as a respecter of democratic values and its units and wings do follow the same path.

Delivering the opening statement on the occasion, the Secretary of State for Basic and Secondary Education, Hon. Fatou Lamin Faye, on behalf of the Vice President, said the AGM is an important forum for the teachers credit union, adding that the GTU and its credit union deal with teachers, who are a major stakeholders in the education sector in the country.

"It is pleasing that the GTUCCU is a financial institution that is not primarily profit driven, and this is best appreciated when we ponder over what obtains in the world around us and the role of financial institutions in exacerbating these conditions and their impact on the world economy," Hon Faye said.

She urged members of the teachers’ union to maintain the cordial relationship that exists between GTUCCU and the nation.