Bintou Sey
The Abubakary Jawara Foundation has donated D500, 000 to the Gambia Armed Forces GAP to renovate Hamza Barracks.
In July, the Gambia Armed Forces announced a fire incident at Hamza Barracks in Banjul. According to the army, the blaze engulfed an entire block housing military personnel and their families, destroying their belongings in several residences.
The affected families were temporarily relocated to Friendship Hostel in Bakau for interim assistance, while the army engaged with pertinent authorities to address the situation.
The Minister of Defence, Serign Modou Njie, CDS Lt. Gen Mamat O Cham and his deputy, the Commander GNA, the National Assembly Members for Banjul North and South, and officials from the National Disaster Management Agency visited the site to assess the extent of the damage.
The army has since been looking for means to renovate the place.
In response to the incident, the Abubakary JawaraFoundation through its CEO Abubakary Jawararesponded with a donation of D500,000. The foundation also offered to renovate the place through its construction company. The construction company has already started clearing the area for work to start at the place.
CEO Abubakary Jawara said the donation is part of the company’s social corporate responsibility, adding that the army is without “a doubt one of the most important security institutions in the country”. “As a foundation, we are committed to supporting Gambians and the government whenever the need arises, especially security institutions,” he said.
Jawara said the foundation will not only donate money but will also support the construction through its construction company.
“We believe the situation should be addressed immediately because we understand some of the residents there are currently displaced and that should not continue for long,” he said.
“My commitment is to share the little things I have with the Gambian people, especially those in need,” he said.