The people’s Bank of first-class service and products on Saturday commissioned a water borehole system meant to provide safe and accessible water supply to the community.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by the Managing Director of GTBank and other senior staff as well as the Chairman of Kerewan Area Council, his deputy, the Deputy Governor of the Region, Local Chiefs and many other dignitaries in the region.
MD Abolaji Yusuff applauded the Chairman of Kerewan Area Council and his team for their support and partnership in “this very important project” of providing the Community of Lowen clean and accessible water supply.
“I will also take this opportunity to thank the contractor SAP Enterprise for a job well-done,” he said, adding: “The water boreholes we contracted him to dig were not only completed in time, but the work was satisfactory. We at GTBank believe that it is an inherent right for every human person and even animals to have a sustainable and accessible clean water supply system.”
The GTBank MD upholds the fact that water is necessary for the sustenance of human life, saying safe and readily available water is important for the good health and well being of people.
“We believe that sustainable and accessible water supply can enhance the economic activities of people and accelerate poverty reduction in communities,” he says. “These are some of the reasons, in our Corporate Social Responsibility interventions, we choose to sink boreholes for communities across the country.”
The human interest-focused MD highlighted that GTBank has provided similar water facilitates in Kiang and Foni.
“We came here 21 years ago with the promise of delivering innovative products and services focused on empowering our customers, communities and The Gambian economy,” MD Yusuff said, giving a brief overview of the contribution and transformation his bank has brought to the people of The Gambia: “Over the years, we have built a strong foundation and are well positioned for continued growth, which is a testament to the world-class standards of our services and the commitment of our members of staff.
“Today, we are humbled by the confidence that our customers have in us and assure them of our continued commitment to providing superior banking experience that places them at the heart of everything we do and to support communities across the country in our Corporate Social Responsibility Interventions.”
Kerewan Area Council Chairman Papa Yusupha Tunkara hailed the lead role GTBank Gambia plays in the development of his Council, saying GTBank “avails reasonable loan facilities” to his councillors to buy motor bicycles.
“The motor bicycles are crucial for the movement of the councillors in their wards and beyond to network with their people,” Chairman Tunkara said as he appreciated GTBank.
He thus encouraged communities, especially women groups, to adopt the culture of saving for the rainy day. He advised the community of Lowen to employ sustainable management of the water borehole, starting with the establishment of a management committee.
“Water is priceless and that without water Muslims will find it very difficult to worship. Deputy Governor Dembo Samateh extolled and appraised the CSR intervention of GTBank, saying the Bank had always played a lead role in complementing government efforts in national development.
He encouraged the people of Lowen to judiciously use the water system and ensure regular and timely maintenance of the facility.
Chief Alpha Mariam Khan of Jokadu, who represents the chief of the region in Kerewan Area Council, and Chief George L. Sonko of Lower Niumi, stated that for GTBank to provide such a water facility to Lowen “is testimony of how genuine the Bank is” as a corporate body doing business in the country.
They encouraged the bank to consider locating a Branch between Barra and Kerewan, saying: “This will encourage savings culture among the people as well as ease the people of the burden to travel long distances to access banking services.”
The Alkalo of Lowen, Babou Lowe, crowned it all, saying the clean water facility provided by GTBank Gambia is the first of its kind in the village.
“It has eased the burden on our women and youths who have used to walk distances to access water,” Alkalo Lowe said with glee and happiness.
