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West Africa Quality Programme Lauds The Media

Dec 2, 2009, 2:11 PM | Article By: Abdoulie Nyockeh

The Coordinator of the West Africa Quality Programme, Mr. Joseph Ndenn has recognised the pivotal role played by the media in promoting food quality and safety standards in the country.

Mr. Ndenn made these remarks recently at the Paradise Suites Hotel in Kololi during a one-day sensitisation forum for media practitioners and consumer interest groups.

"We in the programme are very much aware of the importance of the role of media in endeavours like ours in ensuring that the required understanding and mobilisation for our success is achieved," he stated.

He applauded the Gambian media for their effective coverage of their programmes.

Deputising for the Director General of GRTS, Alhagie Serign Faye, Director of Radio and Television Programmes said "Our desire and interest to forge ahead as a healthy people and a healthy nation can only be attained and guaranteed, if the foods that are produced here and imported into the country meet certain minimum standards," he stated.

He also stressed the crucial role media, both print and electronics play in the promotion of food safety.

He thanked the West Africa Quality Programme for organising the forum.

The West Africa Quality Programme (WAQP) is an EC funded and UNIDO implemented regional programme for the development and improvement of quality in the ECOWAS (non-UEMOA) member states and Mauritania. It specially intervenes in five technical areas, namely Accreditation, Testing/Metrology, Standardisation, Inspection and Quality Management.

Its overall objective is to contribute to greater regional market integration and increased participation of ECOWAS/UEMOA countries and Mauritania in international trade.