The Ghana military contingent serving with ECOMIG on Sunday 24 May 2020 donated assorted items to the Muslim Community in Barra to mark the Eid festival. The items included five bags of rice, sixteen gallons of cooking oil, five boxes of fruits and five crates of soft drinks.
The Commander of the Ghana Contingent, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Danso Nimako, used the occasion to send a congratulatory message to the Muslim Community in Barra and Muslims in general for their successful completion of this year’s Ramadan.
He thanked all Gambians, especially residents of Barra for their hospitality and cooperation so far with the Ghanaian troops.
In his Ramadan message to all Gambians, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Nimako expressed the hope that the marking of the Eid will sweep the COVID – 19 out of the world. According to him, “this year’s celebration is devoid of the usual congregation of Muslims at various communities to offer prayers and also to celebrate the successful completion of the month of fasting with get-togethers, because of the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and its social distancing protocols.
We are therefore saying that we can still celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in our homes, put on our best clothes, and sing the praises of Allah in our homes because we are not in normal times.
Our health is more important than any other thing, so the only way to guarantee our safety is for all of us to be modest in our celebrations even us we observe the festive season at home. What we will lose is the social aspect of it, which is the gathering but in the absence of that we can still honour Allah”
Whilst urging Moslems in particular and Gambians in general to practise all the protocols issued by the Health authorities to prevent the virus from spreading, the Ghanaian Commander assured that his contingent will work for the good of all Gambians for the country to attain the needed peace, which Islam stands for. He thanked all Gambians for their hospitality and support so far.
He said that the presence of Ghanaian troops in The Gambia marks the existing long-standing friendship between the two countries.
The Ghanaian Contingent carries out operational activities in the Upper Bank of The Gambia as part of ECOMIG. Prominent amongst their activities is helping to provide security at the Barra Ferry Point, conducting patrols as well as providing free medical care on daily basis to the people of Barra and its environs.
The Deputy Commander, Major Bright Kusimeh, made the donation on behalf of the Contingent to the Barra Muslim Community. Receiving the items on behalf of the Muslim Community, Sheikh Jen, the Imam of the Barra Central Mosque thanked the Ghanaian troops for the wonderful relations they have with the Community and hoped that come next year, COVID-19 will be over for the troops join them in the celebrations.
In attendance were the Medical Officer of the Contingent, Captain Mbrah Aikens, the Officer in charge of Civil-Military Cooperation, Lieutenant Jennifer Adobea Nkrumah and the Company Sergeant Major who is also the Imam of the Contingent, Warrant Officer Class One Zakaria Issifu.
