The Gambia Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GADHOH) at the weekend celebrated global Deaf Week through a 2-0 defeat over Access Bank Gambia Limited during a friendly football clash held at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Saikou Ceesay of GADHOH paved the first goal at the 55th minute of the game which was later doubled and sealed by Sulayman Jaiteh at the 70th minute.
The game, which was in commemoration of the World Deaf Week, brought a convergence of officials of both the deaf association and Access Bank meant to bring awareness and strong bond among deaf people in The Gambia.
Speaking to The Point, the MD/CEO of Access Bank, Dapo Fajemirokun said it is part of their corporate social responsibility to partner with the deaf association to jointly commemorate the Deaf Week occasion.
The Access Bank CEO further pointed out that the commemoration was also out to bring awareness to both the local and global community.
“It is meant for the deaf people to advocate for their rights and share their weaknesses and strengths and opportunities,” says Amadou Touray, honorary life president of GADHOH.
Mr Touray, who said the government has signed UN convention on the rights of the disabled, also urged people to give support to disabled people.
He further expressed disappointment over the poor attitude of people towards the disabled, whilst appealing to the general public to support people with disabilities and alleviate their plight by also giving them jobs at various institutions and departments and creating opportunities for them to study.
Mr Touray further thanked Access Bank for their immense support towards facilitating and realizing the event.
NISA to take part in sub-regional competition in Senegal
The National Inter-departmental Sports Association (NISA), a body comprising major establishments in the country, is gearing up for a three-day sub-regional multi-disciplinary sports competition to be held in Dakar, Senegal, from 25 to 27 October 2013.
Speaking to The Point, Sulayman Badgie (Uncle Saul), Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the association, said NISA is invited by their Senegalese counterpart who are organising the competition.
“This all came about as a result of NISA’s executive’s tireless efforts in promoting the agenda and mission of the association, which is now getting known internationally,” he said.
According to him, preparations are in high gear, adding that they have written to about 32 working departments and companies. “We are now waiting for their response and on the 10th of October is the deadline. There is a target, so it is going to be ‘first come first serve.”
According to PRO Badgie, the competition is very important to NISA, in the sense that in the past it was only The Gambia and Senegal but now Mali, Nigeria, and Guinea are also coming onboard.
“There will be competition in three different sporting disciplines - swimming, athletics and fencing,” he said.
As to how financially strong is NISA to participate in the competition, he said NISA is very weak when it comes to finance, thus calling for support from the general public.
“We are demanding D5,000 from each participant that will cover transport, feeding and accommodation among other minor expenses during the stay. We are making it affordable for those wishing to take part,” he said.
PRO Badgie said the competition will also enhance sub-regional integration through sports.
He finally expressed hope that institutions, departments, and companies will respond positively.
In another development, NISA is organising a day female volleyball tournament on Saturday, 28 September at the Churchill’s Town Fire Service ground.
Among the departments and institutions to take part, according to the association’s PRO, are Gamtel/Gamcel, Gambia Armed Forces, Gambia Fire and Rescue Services, Gambia Police Force, Gambia Prison Service, National Drug Enforcement Agency, University of The Gambia, Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, and Gambia Radio and Television Services.
He also said NISA has been organising the tournament in the past years successfully, although excluding volleyball, thus describing the tournament as very important for the executive of NISA.
