Each package includes air ticket, US$1,000 pocket money, passport, payment of medical bill, suitcase and a hajj guide booklet.
The packages were given – as part of the company’s cooperate social responsibility – to 7 Muslims and 3 Christians during a ceremony held at the Gamcel head office at Mamadi Maniyang Highway, Kanifing.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ma Nyima Cham, senior marketing manager of Gamcel, said the company has been sending with joy their customers to Mecca and Rome since 2007.
“Times are hard but not with standing we don’t reduce the number of customers we take for pilgrimage each year,” she said.
She further said Gamcel has been supporting religion, health, education, agriculture and many other sectors of national development.
Sarjo Khan, director of Customer Services, said Gamcel has never fallen short of their promises.
While congratulating and wishing them good luck in their trip to the holy cities, Mr Khan called on the lucky customers to continue using Gamcel and also encourage others to join the company.
Aji Ndey Sainabou Jeng aka ‘Yai Ministere’, Gamcel’s chief promoter, said the national GSM operator is stay put for customers and to satisfy them.
Yai Ministere said Gambians should always be proud of Gambia and be proud of choosing what is “purely Gambian”.
She commended Gamcel for the “brilliant work” it has been doing, and urged pilgrims to pray for the company during their pilgrimage.
“The person who sends you for pilgrimage, if that person is the owner of heaven he would give it to you,” said Yai Ministere, who is known for his power of words.“So it is high time we all grabbed Gamcel lines to contribute to the development of The Gambia and ourselves.”
Lamin Fofana of Gamcel said the hajj packages are a way of saying ‘thank you’ to their loyal customers.
“Gamcel and its loyal customers are always in the forefront when it comes to contributing to the development of the nation,” he said.“So, no matter how hard things get we will always continue to take our customers for pilgrimage.”
The winners thanked Gamcel, saying without the company they might never have realised their dream of performing pilgrimage.