FoWA was founded in 2014 and reviewed in 2018. Since 2018, it holds AGMs and executive congresses every two years. The association aims at bringing all workers of Foroyaa under one umbrella and to serve as a common platform to discuss their welfare.
According to officials, in 2021,FoWA had a total revenue of D11, 09.06 The association has three accounts which include Main Account, Social Account and Loan Account.
FoWA has a committee that manages the issuance of loans. It gives loans to members with flexible payment schedule.
Amie Sanneh-Bojang, Chairperson of FoWA described the AGA as important for the association. She said the meeting enables the membership to discuss achievements, challenges and way forward of the association.
Chairperson Sanneh-Bojang said one of FoWA’s major activities is that it gives loan to members to tackle their financial constraints. This, she believed is not happening in many Gambia media houses. she therefore urged other media houses to emulate FoWA.
She thanked Foroyaa management for always being supportive to FoWA and working cooperatively with all staff.
Yankuba Jallow, secretary general for FoWA described Foroyaa Newspaper as an exemplary media house in the media fraternity. He commended Foroyaa’s management under the leadership of Samuel Sarr for continuously supporting FoWA.
Jallow renewed his called on Foroyaa workers to remain united and work collectively to ensure sustainability and progress of the association. “We cannot afford the luxury of division. Our unity is our strength. We have a cooperative membership,” he added.
He announced that FoWA is working on securing funds to train Foroyaa staff on radio production and parliamentary reporting.
Muhammed S. Bah, President of The Gambia Press Union (GPU) said there is a greater need for Gambian journalists to form associations in their various media houses. Such associations, he said would help workers to speak one voice and fight for their rights peacefully.
Mr. Bah, also a staff of Foroyaa said at some point Foroyaa Newspaper’s management was not paying salaries of their staff on time and some staff were not given employment letters but added that when FoWA intervened all is nowgoing well in the institution.
Mr. Bah described media workers association in media houses as right fightersbutnot rebel groups to management.
Samuel Sarr, managing editor of Foroyaa Newspaper and Radio Station, enjoined Foroyaa staff to demonstrate high sense of professional commitments to their work as required. He said reporters have to take risk to ensure they get the needed information. “You should be objective and do not be carried by money,” he advised.
He assured them that Foroyaa will prioritise their welfare and added that the institution would re-strategise their loan scheme and support FoWA financially.
