The President of the Gambia Bankers Association (GBA), Binta Janneh, has underscored the significant role of the private sector, saying that the public-private sector partnership is a must for the country’s national development whilst the financial industry is a key stakeholder in the drive.
She called for the need to review their approaches to development, financial intermediation and the legal and regulatory frameworks that underpin the operating environment.
Binta Janneh made these remarks at the recently held 5th Annual Gambia Bankers Association Award Night as she disclosed that the diversity of members of the GBA gives them the strength and capabilities together. “We are ready for this challenge and we will continue the discussion,” she assured.
The banks through the association are looking up to a more robust and constructive engagement and are committed to participating in the national development aspiration of The Gambia, she outlined.
“The association is being repositioned and reformed to effectively carry out its mandate, Integral to these efforts and in commemoration of the GBA 20th Anniversary, we are pleased to announce the proposed launch of a project intended to construct a new, modern, and eco-friendly head office to house the GBA secretariat as well as a training Centre for the planned chartered institute of Bankers,” she disclosed.
Their goal, she said, is to mobilize GMD20 Million to achieve this project without doubt ambitious, a project they would want to kick-start by Q4 -2022 and complete by Q4 2023., while she sought the government support with the recommendation of CBG, for an allocation of land, with an equal financial contribution of member banks towards the proposed project.
She further applauded the past and present managing directors of commercial banks from the inception of the Gambia Association in 2002 to date for their commitments, roles, and contributions, while she thanked the Gambia government and the Central Bank for the conducive business environment, immeasurable support and guidance.
“The evolving changes in the industry, deepened financial intermediation and the relationship between the customers and the banks changed in character as competition grew intensely,” she disclosed.
Alex Alasan Gomez, chairman of the organising committee for the 5th Annual Bankers Award Night said peace, safety, and security are fundamental pillars on which every business and non-business or individual heavily relies for success in whatever they do.
He, therefore, thanked the government of The Gambia through the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs for providing the enabling environment for the operation of the business they are in and to be able to celebrate achievements and recognize people for their splendid performance in their respective duties they have been assigned