Vice President calls for proper planning to avert replica of food, disaster crises in neighbouring countries

The unfolding food crisis coupled with the recent floods and current political turmoil in Mali and Guinea Bissau have become eye-catching regional phenomena that have arrested the attention of policymakers and governments in the sub-region, as The Gambia’s vice president calls for the promotion of “resilient-based approach”. VP Isatou Njie-Saidy was speaking recently during the validation of the Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) capacity assessment report, held at the Paradise Suites Hotel, when she said “disasters are becoming more frequent, complex and trans-boundary in nature”. “The 2010 floods in West Africa, the current Sahel food crisis, the current political and security situation in Guinea Bissau and Mali to name a few are clear testimonies to the vulnerability of the sub-region and [therefore] necessitate the urgent need to promote a resilience-based approach with the required capacities to emergencies and disasters.”

Vice President Isatou Njie-Saidy She added: “Promoting a resilience-based approach therefore is now considered the best approach to address humanitarian and emergency issues whilst at the same time addressing the structural causes of vulnerability within the country and communities.” She emphasises the need to have in place appropriate meteorological and early warning systems that are responsive to the environment and have the ability to predict existing hazards, as complex emergencies and disasters are inevitable. “To address the weather-related disasters, I call on the department of Water Resources to expedite the reform of the meteorological unit, which I presume will lead to improved services to the public including more accurate predictions/forecasts on the weather and the onset of rains,” the vice president notes.

She is also the Chairperson of NDMA While the country remains vulnerable to climate change and its vagaries, Dr Njie-Saidy says it is imperative “we build resilience of our infrastructure, economy, communities and services to withstand pressures from any future hazards”. She cited the DRR programme in government’s development blueprint – the PAGE, saying: “In fact the full and early attainment of the MDG targets and the promotion of sustainable growth and development will be an illusion if the DRR is ignored in our national development agenda.” This is all the more reason why disaster risk reduction is well encapsulated in the PAGE - Programme for Accelerated Growth and Employment as a cross-cutting pillar in support of national development efforts, The Gambia’s vice president said.

PURA WARNS GSM SUBSCRIBERS TO COMPLY WITH PHONE REGISTRATION EXERCISE

Officials of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) have called on subscribers to officially register their SIM cards of Gamcel, Africell, Comium and QCell. The deadline for SIM Card registration is fast approaching. By mid-June PURA “aims at 100%” blocking of all unregistered SIM Cards from making calls. Unregistered subscribers can only receive calls and make or receive text temporarily until such a time when their lines will be eventually deactivated, says Abdoulie Jobe, PURA’s director general. Mr Jobe was speaking to a team of journalists on Saturday at his institution’s office on Kairaba Avenue, in a press briefing. The move will mark an end to more than a year’s campaign that takes the form of a countrywide mission aimed at registering SIM cards for security and safety reasons. As the mission draws to a close, Mr Jobe says it is essential journalists as information disseminators are kept abreast of the progress of the SIM Registration, which is an executive order. He did recognise the part to be played by the Media in the achievement of the mission, whilst reminding the public that the project PURA has embarked on in the last four months and half “is not” a PURA-initiated move, but a national project.

“This is not a PURA’s project; it’s a national project for the benefit of all residents in the country,” he says. DG Jobe explained the stages his institution would undertake in the SIM card registration campaign, saying the first step is registration of all SIM card users; second, the data is sent to PURA, as the regulatory body, and finally PURA will forward the data to the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and the Immigration Department. After verifications are made by the two institutions, they will return the data to PURA who will then send it to the GSM operators, who will send text messages to their customers that the registration of their SIM cards has become successful. However, it remains unclear over what will happen if false data are returned to a particular GSM operator. This hangs some people’s fates in the balance, as the IEC or the immigration department may not have some users’ information in their information desks. As answer to this doubt lingers on, concerns are that some subscribers will have their SIM cards blocked, since the potential for a false data cannot be ruled out. The telecoms engineer at PURA, Sally Bittaye-Janneh, disclosed that upcountry sim card registration tour is in progress and that currently they have covered over 250 villages in 21 districts. She says the tour will continue to other areas that are yet to be covered come next week “We felt the need to take the project to the people as some subscribers cannot easily access the GSM operating centres,” she says, adding that result of the exercise is “so far so good”. Knowing very well that the “success of the project depends on the people,” Mrs Bittaye-Janneh also notes the help of the Media in successfully informing consumers about the importance of the executive-initiated project. She also advised all holders of SIM cards to register their lines since it is all geared towards enhancing national security. Other speakers on the occasion included Sampo Ceesay, deputy director of electricity regulation, and Solo Sima, director of consumer affairs at PURA.

AFRICELL SEALS DEAL WITH ‘WORLD’S TOUGHEST SATELLITE PHONE’

A pacesetter in the GSM industry of The Gambia has once again beaten the market by signing a deal with Thuraya, the world’s toughest satellite phone company, to revolutionise the way people communicate in their daily routine. On 10 May this year, Africell, the leading GSM company, in terms of customer-base, sealed a partnership deal with Thuraya. Headquartered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Thuraya is a leading provider of innovative, affordable, and high-quality satellite communication solutions for the worldwide broadband satellite market.

The deal will see Africell have its already-wide network coverage further expanded, thus increasing its grip on the mobile communication industry. “This partnership is motivated solely by Africell’s passion and dedication to not only provide the best GSM services, but also to push the country forward in terms of achieving world-class communications in all aspects,” says Badara Mbye, Africell’s Chief Executive Officer. “The world’s toughest satellite phone, Thuraya XT, was designed to withstand the harshest of environments and the most extreme conditions to ensure you stay close, however remote the location,” a Thuraya statement says. “The combination of advanced voice clarity technology and an omni-directional antenna ensures an uninterrupted signal even during non-stationary calls, offering users a real ‘walk & talk’ experience.” Thuraya is already partnering with Africell in Sierra Leone, Liberia and Congo. Mr Mbye continues: “Thuraya makes use of three sophisticated technologies, which are ‘Satellite, Global Systems for Mobile Communication (GSM) and Global Positioning System (GPS) in order to provide satellite phones that can operate beyond terrestrial boundaries, that is, in areas where local networks are unreliable or non-existent, as well as, areas with harsh weather conditions. Thuraya products and services are widely used and the company’s network coverage spans through Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.”

For the Africell Gambia boss, sealing the deal with Thuraya would be not only a boost to his company’s revenue, but also “a great boost for both the public and private sectors as investors from every corner of the world will be highly Africell’s goal for sealing the deal is three-fold. These include bringing advanced and emerging technologies to the country; complementing communications efforts in the country; and saving cost and time of acquisition. With Thuraya-Africell partnership, customers of the consecutively three-time winner of the GSM of the year award will have network coverage in wider areas of the country. This move gives impetus to travellers familiar with moving around the countryside, where network in many areas are either ‘unavailable’ or ‘limited’. Roen Evan Menezes, Thuraya’s Area Manager, noted with satisfaction the partnership with Africell, saying Thuraya XT is the only satellite phone in the world to meet the industry’s highest criteria for splash resistance, dust resistance and shock proofing. “Wherever you are within Thuraya’s extensive coverage area, however remote the location, Thuraya brings you close to where you need to be,” he says. Thuraya’s phone will be available at Africell’s head office, at a cost to be announced later, Papa Leigh, Africell’s head of corporate affairs, says. “However,” Mr Leigh said, “the cost will be reasonable given the fact that Africell is here to mitigate the burden of hardship on its customers.” The launching was attended by cabinet ministers, head of the civil service, diplomatic and consular corps and members of the private sector.

Agric Ministry Gives FSCA a Pat on the Back

The Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture has expressed his ministry’s keen interest in the activities of the Italian-funded project -- Food Security through the Commercialisation of Agriculture (FSCA), saying “so far we are happy with the achievements of the project and hope that the project serves as a good food security model that can be considered by [the Government of The Gambia]”. Sana Dahaba was speaking recently during a four-day training programme on ‘Communication for Development’ organised by the FSCA, for communicators and media practitioners, at the Ocean Bay Hotel in Cape Point.

The training, centred on communication for development, was part of the four components of the FSCA. This fourth component is a three-year Italian-funded project being implemented in two regions – North Bank Region and Central River Region. It is aimed at increasing agricultural productivity, market output and incomes of project beneficiary farmer-based organisations, and small-scale agro-processors on a sustainable basis, resulting in improved livelihoods and food security. For Mr Dahaba, the government places food security high on its development agenda. He said the country has the “potential and opportunities to address food security issues in the ANR sector as a whole if we put in place the right policies and the right intervention”. The policies, he says, is to include the use of an “efficient communication programme”, adding that discipline has always played a decisive role in promoting human development.

Dr Babagano Ahmadu, FAO country rep While giving the Italian-funded project – FSCA -- a pat on the back for organising the training, Mr Dahaba was quick to pinpoint communication as society’s greatest tool to promote technological improvements through research and extension services. “Through the agricultural extension service and the agricultural communication unit, we have created awareness, changed attitudes and improved farmers’ practices in crop and livestock production,” he says. “Let me thank the Italian government and the FAO for supporting the food security efforts in West Africa.” Dr Babagano Ahmadu, country representative for Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) says capacity development is at the heart of FAO’s mandate, hence its vision of strengthening the national capacities of member countries to achieve their own goals in food security and agricultural development. While he recognises the importance of engaging the media as an important partner in development, Dr Ahmadu notes that communication is a driver of change and a key factor for development. Climate change and the current food crisis call for new approaches to foster sustainable solution, hence the reason for organising the training by FSCA.

The project is helping rural Gambian women to become food secured “As we highly appreciate the important role of the Media throughout the implementation of the FAO-FSCA communication strategy, we believe that the participation of these young men and women in this training will make them more efficient in their work,” he said. According to the trainer, who is also a communication and development officer for the FAO in Rome, technology has improved the life of humankind. He however said caution is needed to avoid losing the communication dimension, which serves as “the foundation of our human relationships”. “We have an important role to play in recognising communication is an investment, not a cost, to ensure that communication receives the needed attention in our day to day work,” he says, adding that despite the revolution in technology, many farmers in rural Africa still fail to benefit from this change, mainly as a result of lack of communication.

MENDING THE DENT IN OUR AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM

The latest farming season crop failure in The Gambia and the apt appeal for assistance by the Gambia government has sparked some unprecedented responses from donor agencies, individuals, NGOs and private sector players to extend a helping hand to the government and farmers in the country in order to mitigate the impending food shortage and rise in food prices that hang over the head of the nation. In as much these interventions are highly needed to mitigate the looming food crisis in the country, and we would like to profoundly thank and commend all those who have rendered assistance for their invaluable aid to our national food crisis, we want to say that our current rain-fed agricultural system has grown rapidly inadequate and unreliable in meeting our food demand and land productivity. Rain-fed agriculture will not reliably do the work for us. We have to graduate from rain-fed agriculture to irrigated agriculture so that we can have all-year round crop production. It will be difficult for The Gambia to attain food self-sufficiency under the country’s current state of food production, which is based on rain-fed agriculture. While the rest of the world has availed itself of scientific advances to triple its food production, Africa’s output is stagnating. It imports more food than it grows and three quarters of its farmland is degraded. With the price of basic foods such as maize, wheat and rice increasing on a daily basis, millions of people around the world are suddenly facing a very bleak tomorrow. The money in their pockets is not enough to purchase the same quantity of food as before. Each day of their lives they are struggling to fill their stomachs. Gambian farmers heavily rely on rainfall for crop production and the pattern of rain is now becoming more and more erratic due to the climate change phenomenon.

Irrigated agriculture, which permits for all-year round crop production, is the answer many agriculturalists have attested to the fact that The Gambia can feed herself sooner rather than later when this method of food production is operationalised. The development of irrigation would provide the basis to develop a productive, sustainable and diversified agriculture, to achieve the desired food self-sufficiency and the development of a rice-based export-oriented agriculture, and to increase the foreign exchange earning capacity of the country. “To put the rice situation in The Gambia in its proper perspective, there is need to appreciate that available data indicate there is sufficient land to expand production to the level required for the attainment of food self-sufficiency,” said Malcolm Duthie, former World Food Agriculture representative to The Gambia, has said “However, because of the predominantly subsistence rain-fed production system, increased rice production and productivity has been severely constrained by the vagaries of the climate.”

Rain-fed agriculture is more risky now because of the consistent onset of late rains. Some times there is a decline in rainfall in the middle of the season, an early end to the season or end-of-season drought, increased variability in annual rainfall, and an increased frequency of intensive rainfall and runoff, resulting in severe floods. “The Gambia imports most of her food requirements, particularly grains, and produces not more than 20% of its rice requirement, which makes it very vulnerable to rise in prices and reduction in supplies from the international market as the country depends heavily on importation.” Mr Duthie says. He notes: “There is a need to improve the country’s agricultural production. The country should therefore promote more non-rainfall agriculture, because one of the problems in the past years has been reliance on the weather and farmers can’t do much because the weather does not corroborate some times.” This is the simple message of Abba Sankareh, Director of Planning Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, quoted in one of our lead articles. Non-rainfall agriculture means boosting irrigation, better management of agriculture and other appropriate mechanisms. Let’s, therefore, apply it, to mend the dent in our agricultural system.

TWO TEENAGERS, ONE ADULT WIN MORE THAN HALF-A-MILLION IN AFRICELL’S EXTREME BONANZA PROMO

Africell – one the country’s most outstanding GSM operators --, has ended its much-talked-about promotion, which began on the 1st of April, drawing the attention of the public to an incredible life changing enterprise with extraordinary cash prizes of more than two million Dalasi won during the entire period of the promotion. Whilst the promotion drew to an end, Omar Sarr, an 18 year-old boy from Mbolleth village in CRR won himself two-hundred and fifty thousand dalasi (D250, 000); Fatou Sanyang – aged 15 - of Farato, West Coast Region won one hundred thousand (D100, 000); and Abubacarr Bah from Bullock village in Foni went home with a whooping sum of five-hundred thousand dalasi (D500, 000).

The promotion sparked immense excitement across the nation as the entire country geared up for the much awaited grand raffle draw of eight hundred and fifty thousand (D850, 000), a release from the GSM operator reads. “This unique structured promotion was designed to increase the chances of all Africell subscribers. Hence every two weeks, a set of new series were drawn from which lucky winners were selected through a raffle draw held live on GRTS tv.” The release continues: “The Xtreme Bonanza is one of Africell’s benevolent gestures geared towards the empowerment of the people of this country. In addition to the above mentioned grand prizes, 12 other lucky winners were presented with 50, 000 dalasi each during the course of the month of April.

“This is a major increase as compared to the 5 winners who were awarded with the same amount during the 1st two weeks of the Xtreme Bonanza thus, showcasing Africell’s commitment to offering greater opportunities. Hundreds of winners were also given mobile phones and free Africell credit.” Beside the tough and competitive environment GSM operators are faced with, Africell has been able to navigate the headwind and continued to demonstrate its exceptionality in providing equal opportunities subscribers across the country. Speaking shortly after the ceremonious handing of the cheques, Fatou Sanyang, one of the three winners, commended Africell for what she described as “magnificent gesture”. She urged customers to keep loading, whilst the wind of luck continues to blow across the country. She admitted being a long-time subscriber to Africell, and that she has lost several phones, but never gives up using the Afrciell line. She was seen covered with veil of smiles in front of cameras whilst her presumed husband joins her on stage to push the boat out with her. Young Omar Sarr who is a ten-grade school going boy was enthusiastic going home as a different person to-be in the society. In his own words: “I will use the money to pay my school fees, help my father and mother.” Abubacarr Bah who went home with a lion share of the prizes, gave Africell a pat on the back for uplifting him from the current economic status quo. “During the night I was called by Africell that I’ve won myself a prize, I couldn’t believe it at first. I was told [by the caller] to tune to the television, but I told him ‘I don’t have a TV in my home’. The caller told me to tune the radio. I did as he says. When I heard my name, I had to jump from my sitting position. The entire village of Bullock is happy with Africell,” he quipped.

GAMBIA TO PLAY HOST ‘2012 AFRICAN WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE’

The small West African country of The Gambia with its 1.8 population is on its foot to host an historic event dubbed ‘African Women in Leadership Conference (AWLC) 2012’ from June 13 to the mid of June this year. At a press discourse in Statehouse recently, Mrs Edith Uyovbukerhi, Executive Director, African Women in Leadership Organisation says “The 2012 AWLC will be the 4th annual conference. Its maiden event was held in 2009 in Accra, Ghana; the second annual event was held in Abuja Nigeria in 2010; and the most recent 2011 edition [was held] in Accra, Ghana.” The team from AWLO, which organises the African Women Leadership Conference (AWLC), was in Statehouse to brief the vice president about the event.

Her excellence flanged by Mrs Edith Uyovbukerhi, Executive Director AWLO and Elisha Attai, Founder of AWLO The objectives of AWLC include among other issues, fostering an alliance among African women in leadership position for proper conduct in office; to create a platform for unity, solidarity, cohesion, dialogue and networking amongst members for self-development; and to influence the improvement to access to legal, political, economic in the spirit of advancing the status of women in poor Africa. The Gambia’s vice president Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, who is a continental exemplar and Hon Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the deputy governor of Lagos State, Nigeria, are the two influential and strong African women shortlisted to deliver papers at the event, which will be held at the Sheraton Hotel. “The African Women in Leadership Conference 2012 will be the largest gathering of African women on the continent. It is a three-day event that brings together women leaders from diverse backgrounds across the region to interact, dialogue and discuss relevant issues aimed at empowering women to develop their leadership capability towards greater self and national development,” she adds. “There is a need for African women to achieve gender parity, access finance, insurance, education, healthcare and housing to help them spiral upwards. There has to be a focus on finding a good approach to solving the incapacitation of poor women in rural and disadvantaged areas of Africa to move out of poverty.

Her excellence, the team from AWLO and the deputy speaker of parliament, Hon Fatou Mbye For this to materialise, women must develop the capacity to generate and maintain their means of livelihood and produce excess that will eventually lead to savings,” she says, adding these are some of the issues that will be discussed in the conference, hence are the primary priorities of the AWLO. Cognizant of the Gambia government’s effort in empowering women, the organisers deemed it fitting to have the programme conducted in the country. “The choice of The Gambia is borne out of the fact that The Gambia has unique qualities over many other destinations in Africa and high among them is its government’s active inclusion of women in key leadership and decision making positions,” Elisha Attai, Founder of AWLO was quoted as saying. Currently the country boasts of 38% of women in cabinet, a percentage many hailed as good move to empowering women. Pertinent issues will be on the table for discussion, among which are ‘how does the role of the African woman in politics contribute to securing reformation for Africa and protect its political future’; ‘what strategies do African women in politics apply for impacts’?; is the notion of increased gender participation for the African woman in government and society merely a political tool’? The event will x-ray sessions that address the woman’s spiritual, mental, physical and emotional wellbeing. “Other sessions will explore the woman in the African context, where the challenge can be two-pronged: cultural environment and conditioning of the girl-child imposed on the characteristics and expectations of a strong Africa woman leader,” Mrs Uyovbukerhi notes. The meeting at Statehouse was attended by national women leaders, the permanent secretary at the office of the vice president, deputy speaker of the National Assembly, and the vice president.

‘DEPENDENCE ON FOOD IMPORT DOES NOT GUARANTEE FOOD SELF-SUFFICIENCY’

Even though African governments and The Gambia in particular might have the resources to import food for its famine-hit populations, the foreign markets where the produce come from have become unreliable due to growing demands at home and the global food status that continues to remain dim, writes Amat JENG, who at the weekend interviewed Gambia’s agriculture director of Planning Service Unit. In a recent tete-a-tete with the Director of Planning Service Unit at the Ministry of Agriculture, MarketPlace got to know more about the current food crisis than meets the eye. Abba Sankareh says if the country is yearning for sustainable food self-sufficiency, farmers and stakeholders have to resort to extensive farming, by employing the modern modus operandi of “Mechanisation of agriculture”. “If you look at the world [from the agricultural circle], now those who are providing food for us are themselves having problems as far as provision of food is concerned,” he adds. The fact that countries that export food to The Gambia are grappling with food deficit amid soaring world food prices, their markets have become unreliable. “If you should depend on someone who has problems producing enough for his people is high time you started looking out for other avenues,” he notes, adding that dependent countries may as well be at risk. The burning issue of global food crisis has received more attention after erratic rainfalls and poor climate added up to the crisis, leaving millions of Africans to go to bed without adequate food.

Pic: Abba Sankareh The Gambia currently needs nothing less than 160,000 to 200,000 metric tonnes of rice to feed its people, half of whom continues to wallow in poverty and despair. Whilst the country was able to produce only a quarter of that, Director Sankareh says deficit in that area has to be realised through import. “But this is not sustainable,” he said, suggesting: “It is high time we started making avenues for food self-sufficiency.” To become food-secure is flexible and simple, he noted, saying it can be achieved through mechanised agriculture; consistent and large-scale farming; and ensure “we grow what we eat and eat what we grow”. Mechanisation of agriculture is one of the best strategies to becoming self-sufficient, he affirm, saying that with this state-of-the-art farming method, a farmer can be able to cultivate a huge farmland with the help of machines and technology. “If you are talking of food security, you cannot depend on smallholder farmers who cultivate 1 to 5 hectares of land,” he says, adding that “mechanisation has to come in play”. Mr Sankareh also adds that high dependent on rainfall does not secure food security; rather the solution is embarking on all-year-round cultivation. “Rain-fed faming is detrimental to the farming populace [and the nation] that entirely depend on agriculture as a source of living.” The upcoming 2011-2012 Census Every ten years the Government of The Gambia through the Ministry of Agriculture, with support from development partners, conducts what agriculturalists define as ‘Census’. This is a forum where consumers of data and statistics will converge to exchange ideas that will help influence policies towards agricultural development. “The agricultural Census basically looks at the restructuring of agriculture in the country, ranging from farm-size, to land-use, land-tenure, livestock, the use of farm machineries, irrigation, soil degradation, agricultural technology and of course market information.”

Since the Census requires thorough planning, the agriculture ministry last year started its planning in earnest with consultations, meetings and findings. The first Census was held in 2000-2001. This year’s Census has among other things the objectives to develop and implement a national programme for an agricultural census and an annual crop and livestock surveys as well as compile relevant indicators, collect annual agricultural statistics, establish an agricultural data bank; and improve skills and knowledge of field staff in agric data collection and compilation techniques.

FSCA EMPOWERS FARMERS TO BECOME FOOD SECURE

The Italian-funded project for Food Security through the Commercialisation of Agriculture (FSCA) has continued its giant stride of empowering farmers to become food self-sufficient and non-dependent on alien produce. In a recent handing-over ceremony of equipment worth over two million Gambian dalasi (D2m) held at FAO’s head office in Fajara, the project national coordinator, Amie Jallow-Jatta, who chaired the gathering, renewed her project’s commitment to put out all the stops in order to contribute meaningfully to the creation of a food-secured nation. The project is being implemented in two regions – North Bank Region and Central River Region – and focuses on food security and commercialisation of agriculture to last for three years.

The farm and household equipment donated to farmers by the FSCA include two rice threshers, two rice milling machines, four medium-size generator, a coos and maize dehuller, a coos milling machine, an early millet motorised thresher, a hammer mill for maize, two cashew nut shellers (decorticator), among many others, including utensils required for processing centres. The FSCA has three components: strengthening of service provider and farmer-based organisations; supporting value addition and marketing; as well as projecting coordination, she added. The Italian-funded project has succeeded in establishing processing centres in Njawara (a Wonjo processing centre), Nyangen (a Pepper processing centre), Sami Madina (a Findo processing centre), and Mbullum (a Cashew processing centre). The items donated are meant to equip these centres for training and demonstration. According to Mrs Jallow-Jatta: “The objective of the project is to increase on a sustainable basis agricultural productivity, marketed output and incomes of project beneficiaries. Farm-Based Organisations (FBOs) and small-scale agro-processors, resulting in improved livelihoods and food security.”

The project has provided series of trainings and capacity building on group management and leadership training; entrepreneurship development and business management training; processing and quality management aspects of product development among others. In his welcome remarks, Dr Babagano Ahmadu, FAO country rep, outlined the objectives of the project, among which is “rural poverty and household food insecurity reduced on a sustainable basis”. He added that it will assist smallholder farmers and small-scale food processors to overcome production constraints and to add value through improved production, processing and marketing techniques. Hon. Solomon Owens, Minister of Agriculture, added some phrases of happiness to the donation, calling it a step in the right direction. He noted that the FSCA has weathered so many storms in the agricultural sector, citing how empowered farmers are becoming, thanks to the intervention of the project. He urged recipients of more than two-million worth of equipment to make good use of the items, while calling on the project coordinator and her team to ensure the sustainability of the invaluable items.

FAILURE OF SUB-REGIONAL ECONOMIC REFORM PROGRAMMES HINDERS PROGRESS OF TODAY’S DYNAMIC BUSINESS

Today’s dynamic business, which requires effective communication skills, has been rendered unproductive by what participants of an eight-day course described as “Previous economic reform programmes in the sub-region”. Many programmes have been initiated to help eliminate barriers to financial management, but none of the initiatives has prudently addressed problems related to ineffective communication. Held in Banjul from16 to 24 April by the West African Institute for Finance and Economic Management (WAIFEM), the course brought together officials of the central banks, revenue authorities, customs and excise, and finance and economic affairs ministries of the English-speaking West African countries of The Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. WAIFEM is an initiative by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), established in 1996 with the mandate to strengthen sustainable capacity for debt, financial sector and macro-economic management in these countries. “In spite of the critical need for effective communication in attaining organisational objectives, report writing, which constitutes a critical element in communication, is unfortunately not given the due attention it deserves,” said Fatou Njie, a participant, who read the communiqué prepared by the course participants at the end of the training. “Ineffective communication could be partly blamed for the failure of previous economic reform programmes in the sub-region,” she said, calling on WAIFEM to consider running the course more regularly to build the capacities of actors on communications and report writing. Given the dynamic nature of business, it is essential that individuals and organisations master the communication process to enable them achieve their goals and economic development in the sub-region. "Organisations should understand and value the importance of effective report writing in attaining organisational goals,” Ms Njie said, adding that there should be continuous capacity building in report writing and presentation skills for organisational effectiveness.

Governor Colley Whilst modern business organisations require constant and large amount of internal and external communication, the course has been designed to empower players in the sector with the capacity to use communication as a powerful tool for job effectiveness. The course was among other things aimed at enhancing the competence of participants in writing and presentation of effective economic, financial and other technical reports, whilst also building the confidence of participants to be competent communicators. With the team of people trained during the timeline of the course, WAIFEM’s director of financial department, Ousman Sowe, is optimistic that the problems faced by the sub-region in terms of communication could be curbed. “The limitation in the number of communication experts in our [West African] region will become a history,” he noted. Essa Drammeh, director of banking and financial supervision at the Central Bank of The Gambia, said the neglect of the dictionary forms part of the results of common errors in report writing. He called on the powers that be to ensure regular capacity building in report writing and presentation techniques.