His Excellency, the president and Commander-in-Chief of the Gambia Armed Forces, Adama Barrow, through the Ministry of Defence, donated 5 buses and 5 tractors to the Gambia Armed Forces on April 2nd, 2025, in a handing over ceremony held at the State House ground in Banjul. Present at the ceremony, was Hon. Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Defence, the Turkish Ambassador to the Gambia, His Excellency Tolga Oba, the Chief of Defence Staff Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mamat OA Cham, the National Security Adviser to the President, Abubacarr Sulayman Jeng, Hon. Modou K Ceesay, Chief of Staff and Minister for Presidency and other Government Officials.
Delivering a statement shortly before handing over, the president underscored the importance of easing transportation huddles and empowering the Gambia Armed Forces as they continue to serve with commitment and dedication guided by the National Development Agenda (NDA).
According to the Commander- in- Chief, the security sector is one of the critical areas towards realizing the National Development Pan (NDP) objectives. He underlined that the Gambia Armed Forces and other security services have an important role in ensuring a peaceful and stable environment in national development. He maintained that his Government will make every effort to operate a conducive and convenient work environment for GAF
Present Barrow remarked that the presentation was in two falls, that the 5 buses are to ease transportation and ensure punctuality at work. The tractors are meant to support the agricultural initiative of the Gambia Armed Forces. According to him, the determination to have a peaceful country, warrants to seek alternative engagement for GAF and the initiative to take up agriculture will create basic produce to improve nutrition as well as to make them more self reliant in having sustained food security. “The tractors will boost production capacity and add value to the mechanization of agriculture. I therefore urged you to make the best use of the buses and tractors to ensure durability”. He concluded.
For his part, the Chief of Defence Staff Gambia Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Mamat OA Cham, expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation for the remarkable gesture from the Commander- in- Chief. He postulated that the new buses will resuscitate and greatly enhance GAF’s bus service scheme, ensuring the efficient and timely transportation of personnel across various military deployments in the country.
GAF boss posited that GAF is fully aligned with the Government’s vision of ensuring national food security and sovereignty, and it is in that spirit that the donation of the 5 buses and 5 tractors is graciously accepted to support GAF’S rice value chain production prospects as well as other farming activities. The CDS concluded.
The keys to the 5 buses and 5 tractors were officially handed over to the Honourable Minister of Defence, Brigadier General (Rtd) Ambassador Sering Modou Njie by the president and Commander-in- Chief, and the Minister finally handed over to GAF boss, Lieutenant General Mamat OA Cham for their judicious usages.
