By Yunus S Saliu
The Minister of Tourism and Culture, Hamat Bah Friday presided over the inauguration ceremony of the newly appointed Board of Directors for the National Center for Arts and Culture. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Ministry of Tourism and Culture office at Quadrangle, Banjul.
The Minister congratulated the newly inaugurated board members and thanked them for accepting the appointment which he said the selection did not come on a gold platter but through hard screening.
The newly inaugurated members include Oremi Joiner – Chairman, Modou Jagne – member Foday Baldeh, – member, Modou Joof – ex officio, Professor Victor – ex officio.
Addressing the new board, he urged them work on the establishment of National Troupe of The Gambia and also on the realization of royalties collection for Gambian artists through the Copyright laws.
Taking into consideration the importance the President His Excellency Adama Barrow attaches to tourism and culture as he prioritized tourism and culture in the National Development Plan and specifically challenged the Ministry to establish the National Troupe of The Gambia, the Minister therefore assured the board his Ministry support the Ministry will continue to engage NCAC and the Board so that the country will have a full fledged National Troupe as soon as possible.
He went further and implored the board to as well treat the issue of collecting society as urgent it is an urgent business for them to direct the realization of royalties collection for Gambian artists through the Copyright Laws.
In 2018 he said his office signed the Copyright Regulations after five years of delay and dilly dallying. Now that it is signed, he said the Ministry will engage their partners to assist the Gambia Collecting Society Board to have seed money to start collecting royalties for the Gambians long suffering artists. He assured artists that the government is with them, cares for them and will restore back what is due for them.
Cordu Jabang Senghore, Permanent Secretary – MoTC, highlighted on achievements of the Ministry and the culture sector in the past two years. She said the MoTC in any platform can stand and celebrate the fact that culture is one of the priorities of the present government as “culture is no longer a tag along sector.”
She said culture now stands alone and it is important to the government and the President of the country is “very much looking to see that the objective and strategy listed out for the culture sector are realize in the NDP 2021 target.”
As government increased the amount of fund allocated to culture, the PS reiterated the NCAC’s core mandate which is to preserve culture and develop Gambia arts and culture as NDP provides for the accomplishment of start under the strategy objectives of promoting an inclusive culture center, tourism for sustainable growth, with Government’s goal “to make tourism a highly competitive and sustainable industry that is people and culture – centred that celebrates our cultural heritage and contributes to socio-economic development.”
Oremi Joiner, Chairman Board of Director thanked the ministry for having faith in him and re appointed him for the second time as chairman of the board of directors. He reflected on their past achievements and as well the support received from the Ministry that enabled them achieved their tasks.
He admitted that it was not easy for them to achieve all they have achieved in the first two years but promised that the board will not relent in their efforts. With full assurance he said the board members took the appointment wholesomely and they will start work rigorously to achieve their level of competence they want NCAC to achieve.
Foday Baldeh on behalf of the appointed members thanked the government of the Gambia through Ministry of Tourism and Culture for the appointment.