The GACH Mining Company on Sunday presented a cheque of D1.5 million to the Tujereng Village Development Committee.
According to the official, the disbursement is part of an agreement between GACH Mining Company LTD and the community of Tujereng for five percent of the company profits from the mining of aluminum and black sand in the community to be paid to the community.
Speaking at the ceremony, Boto Bojang, the Councillor of Sanyang ward, commended GACH Global for being the only company in the area that shares its profits with the community and contributes to community development projects such as Mosque development, Sports activities, and other forms of support.
Yusupha Jawara, of GACH said the company remains committed to paying communities for their shares.
He explained that giving back to the community is deeply ingrained in their culture, as they strongly believe in supporting people and communities in need.
The Governor of the West Coast region, Ousman Bojang, informed the community that over a million dalasi had been received as royalty because royalty is only paid to the government.
“This is a voluntary contribution from the company out of their desire to share their revenue with the community,” he said.
He commended GACH CEO Abubakary Jawara’s track record as a community development advocate and praised his dedication to giving back.
Also addressing the presentation, GACH Global CEO Abubacarr Jawara thanked the community for the warm and cordial relationship they continue to extend to his company.
He acknowledged that his company is not the only mining company in the sector but highlighted that they were the first to obtain a license for mining black sand in the area, and the company is 100 percent Gambian.
Jawara shared various initiatives his company has supported in the country, ranging from malaria prevention efforts to other initiatives in the healthcare sector.
Jawara further revealed that his company has now started mining in Guinea-Bissau.
He dismissed claims that the mining activities were detrimental to the community, saying that if that were the case, the community of Tujereng would not have allowed his company to mine there. He stressed that the company has maintained a positive relationship with the communities of Sanyang and Brufut.
He said that as a testament to GACH’s commitment to the environment, the company has donated D1.5 million dalasi for tree planting in Brufut.
Jawara disclosed that his company has also built two police stations, four football fields, and other social services across the country.
“We are also planning to organise a nationwide football tournament and a nationwide Quranic recitation competition,” he said.
He said the company’s support for the communities they mine has increased from D1.2 million last year to D1.5 million this year.
“This could reach D2 million by next year,” he said.
The Village Development Committee (VDC) expressed their satisfaction with their partnership with GACH.