Rotary Club of Banjul decorates new president

Rotary International was founded by Paul Harris, a trained lawyer. The non-profit organization aims to provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations as well as help in building goodwill and peace in the world.

The new president will serve from 2022-2023.

In his inaugural remarks, Rotarian Fabian Akaneme, new president for Rotary Club of Banjul, commended the club’s general membership for empowering him.

He expressed his resolve to work hard to contribute immensely to the development of the organisation.

The organisation, he added, helps to provide humanitarian services to vulnerable people across the society.

He called on all members of the organisation to continue working to provide social amenities for vulnerable people such as clean drinking water, sanitation, help to improve their healthcare and contribute to maintenance of peace across the globe.

Akaneme further said with support from the organisation’s board and general membership, his administration intends “to increase and retain membership, engage new members and return old members to the club; to embark in accomplishing impactful projects.”

Moving forward, he promised to work closely with all the executive members to develop institutional strategies to ensure the clubs’ goals are achievable.

In her farewell remarks, Isatou Bah, outgoing President of Rotary Club of Banjul, applauded her executive and all members of the club for giving her maximum support during her tenure in the presidency.

Madam Bah recalled that under her leadership, the club had successfully completed developmental projects, including projects inherited from their predecessors.

“We had a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UNICEF to increase the number of schools within the Greater Banjul Area (GBA) having access to clean and accessible water facilities and toilets,” she said.

This, she described as efforts to attain the sustainable development goals, and particularly goal six [provision of water and toilets facilities to all and help to get rid of open defecation].   

“Bakau School WASH project that was started three weeks ago has been successfully completed and handed over to the school management this afternoon,” she announced, adding access to toilet is a right and necessity.

In their move to popularise the club, Madam Bah revealed that her team increased visibility of the club through providing a social media manager to manage daily affairs of the club’s social media platforms, especially Facebook.

“We are also building a new website for the club,” she added.

These projects, she added, are among others her office implemented.

Bah noted that her office has pending project, but urged the new President to come with strategic plans to complete the projects.

Awards were presented to some members of the club for their invaluable contribution to the club over the years.