Kebba Ansu Manneh
Africell, Gambia’s biggest and leading GSM Company has vowed to rehabilitate the Gambia National Museum and its grounds to standard in its quest to promote and preserve the cultures and heritages in the country.
This disclosure was made by Hassum Ceesay, Director National Center for Arts and Culture at the launching of the Africell Impact Foundation held at the National Museum in Banjul on Sunday.
Officials of the nation’s leading GSM Company said the Africell Impact Foundation hopes to empower people and communities by bringing them together, adding that the project will connect people physically and digitally through education, arts and culture, health care among others.
“As its first activity the Africell Impact Foundation will be the rehabilitation of the National Museum and its ground into a new modern purpose fitted museum. This will enhance our cultural pride, protect our heritage resources, boost cultural identity and support tourism and the Gambian economy,” Hassum Ceesay disclosed.
According to him, the National Center for Arts and Culture (NCAC) have been working with Africell to make this project a reality, noting that the company has provided materials that have been utilised in preserving the arts and heritages at the national museum.
“Already Africell through this project have donated two 40fts containers stationed at the Arch where the materials will be kept.
Therefore, I can say Africell has been a genuine partner that has been supportive to lots of artists in the spectrum to enhance their artistic creativity through vigorous ways and means,” Director Ceesay noted.
Mr. Hussain Diab Ghanein, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Africell Company, The Gambia expressed his delight to the launched of the Africell Impact Foundation, adding that it is a demonstration of the commitment of the company to its corporate social responsibility that it has been rendering for the past twenty 20 years.
He emphasized that ploughing back to the communities in which Africell operates is part of its DNA, adding that it is more rewarding, emotional and gratifying to personally participate in such a worthwhile initiative meant to change the lives of the people.
“I am privileged to be part of a project that will make an impact on the livelihoods of the people. The launch of Africell Impact Foundation will mark the beginning of transformation of the national museum and its grounds to a purpose fit and stand museum,” Hussain Diab Ghanian noted.
According to him, the Africell Impact Foundation is to connect people and offer them the opportunities to build a better future through digital technology, adding that Africell have invested in education, Covid-19 support to vulnerable families as well as its latest support to the national football team (Scorpions).
Ambassador Peter Pham, Executive Director of Africell Group observed that the Impact Foundation has opened another exciting new chapter in Africell’s work in the Gambia, citing that social impact is part of Africell’s DNA and that it will continue to empower local communities.
According to him, the telecom industry has a unique potential to bring people together that Africell has been able to do over the years, adding that the company has impacted on the lives and livelihoods of many Gambians in different communities.
He continued to observe that education and entrepreneurship are the lifeblood of any nation, noting that educated citizens have the potential to create jobs, incomes and spread prosperity.
“We will continue to support education enterprises by digitalising critical tools and resources to enhance the development of the country.
Second in my heart is arts and culture, another important sector that binds communities together, Africell Impact Foundation will give a physical platform for arts, culture and heritages in all our operating areas,” Ambassador Peter Pham revealed.
Executive Director of Africell Group continued to affirm that the partnership with the Nation’s Centre for Arts and Culture will help to tell more stories about the dynamism of the country and its people.
“The Africell Impact Foundation will also support healthcare through the promotion of active lifestyles, give people access to better information and push talented athletes to realise their potentials,” he said.
He highlighted the numerous support given by Africell in the area of sports development with the most recent support to the National Team in just ended Afcon 2022, affirming that the company is ready to work with government, NGOs, civil societies organisations as well as other companies to build social resilience and responsive to crisis when they occurred.
The Africell Impact Foundation launching was graced by First Lady Fatoumatta Bah Barrow, Foreign Minister, Dr. Momodou Tangara, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Hamat N.K Bah, Minister of Women and Children Affairs, Fatou Kinteh, Minister of Youths and Sports Bakary Badgie, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Adama Jimba Jobe, among other government and Africell dignitaries