The GCCI awards

It is said that men are rewarded or punished not for what they do, but for how their acts are defined. That is why men are more interested in better justifying themselves than in better behaving themselves.

Our point of discussion today is the just held GCCI 2009 Annual Dinner and Awards Night, which saw 11 personalities and companies awarded for their leading role towards the socio-economic development of the country. This will undoubtedly catalyze the achievement of higher productivity and enhanced competitiveness among businesses, and could also help in building a culture of creativity and hard work for business excellence in this country. The awards also have the potential to provide great value to Award Winners in gaining both national and international recognition, and have the power to attract foreign businesses for joint ventures.

We would, therefore, like to congratulate all the awardees for their hard work and commitment over the years, and urge them to work harder.  We would also like to commend the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) for organizing such an awards ceremony as it would serve as an inspiration and motivation to others to do more in their businesses.

We would, however, like to advise the private sector to come together as it is in their collective interest that they work with the GCCI.

"There is a lot of misconception on the role of the private sector, and the role of the GCCI," Bai Matarr Drammeh, the GCCI president said at the awards ceremony. This can only be cleared if the private sector come together and work with the Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the umbrella body of the private sector.

It is only by coming together that the private sector in this country can make a significant impact in the socio-economic development of the country. As the saying goes, "unity is strength" and it is only by uniting and coming together that the private sector can make any meaningful impact.

No government on earth can do it alone for its citizens. The private sector has a leading role to play in any country's development, especially now that the world is faced with economic and financial crises. This sector is seen as the engine of growth in any country's development.

Moving as individual business entities would only lead to the slow growth of the private sector, and not its rapid progress. So it is high time that the private sector operators come together, and work as a body so as to achieve good results.