tie against DHL Jadida of Morocco. The scoreline means the Gambian side lost on a total -6-0 on aggregate following a 2-0 home defeat to the Moroccans at the Brikama Box bar after  the match yesterday but a keen follower of their history in international outings  said this is the worst record the club ever had. Gamtel has over the years led the most successful campaign in Gambian club history eliminating giants in Senegal, Mali and progressing to the Wafu championship final among others. 

Author: Lamin  Cham 

As preparation  get into full swing to get the newly acquired Banjul office of the West African Football Union Wafu, Zone A, working Gambians have been commenting on the coming t Banjul of this most important office.

Last month, Wafu purchased a compound in Bakoteh with a completed building for use as its secretarial covering nine countries.  Soon after the office was acquired the Gambia Football Federations GFF greeted the new development with great pleasure.”It is significant development for the country and we as the football body in The Gambia would work very hard to see that the zone is as successful as all members desire,”  commented GFF spokesman Star Janneh.

A Gambian Jammeh EK Bojang is the secretary general of the Zone and he said there are plans to stage a football youth championship as early as May in Senegal which hold the presidency and would stage the African Youth Championship next year.

Speaking to The Standard in an interview yesterday, an experienced sports administrator who begged for anonymity said the Gambian football authorities  must  do their best not to disappoint the region and must show professionalism and dignity as people worthy of hosting such a prestigious body.

Also speaking on the same subject, a former  national team player  said Wafu used to be a very popular  body with interesting football championships  which was lost and it is incumbent on The Gambia as host of the biggest zone to revitalise it.

Author: Lamin Cham

Therefore whenever the story of Gambian football is to be written, natural justice dictates that those people be given their fair due and recognition for what they have done in the service of the nation. This is exactly what my mentor Tijan Massaneh Ceesay has done in his ‘unputdownable’ book on Gambian football which would soon be available on sale in The Gambia.

In this excerpt from Chapter 13, Tijan paid a glowing tribute to these people he called his heroes; those men of substance and patriotism who contributed immensely to the promotion of  Gambian football. Read his thoughts here;

CELEBRATING MY HEROES OF GAMBIAN FOOTBALL

During my time in Gambian football, there were indeed many who played a vital role in the development of the game. However, like the scriptures say, “many are called but few are chosen.” In this context, I want to take a moment and just briefly give credit to some among the many that I felt went above and beyond to bring the game where it is today.

Alhaji Housainou MM Njie

First I begin with the London trained economist, Alhaji Houssainou MM Njie. Njie’s contribution to Gambian football cannot and never will be equalled. Jimmy, as he was affectionately known, was a principled man who was generous with the Gambian youth, the most important occupant of his heart. In addition to his Hawks Football Club, Housainou took care of a lot of teams financially. Given his humble nature, Housainou’s deeds went unmentioned because that was how he wanted it. When it came to the national team, his contributions were second to none. The man was a sports philanthropist and it is indeed a shame that his role in developing Gambian football and sports in general has been so easily overlooked. While a board member at The Gambia National Insurance Corporation, Housainou helped to secure one of the most lucrative sponsorship packages for the Gambia Football Association in the then annual Gambia National Insurance Corporation football championship. Much more so, the Gambia Commercial and Development Bank which he headed at the time was also an instrumental player in the development of Gambian football. HMM, as he was also known, was one for the ages and, indeed, history will document what he did for Gambian football and that, without Housainou MM Njie, Gambian football would never be where it is today. 

 Alhaji Ousman Bassi Conateh (Fisco)

If anyone is to be nicknamed Mr Football, it should be OB Conateh. In my lifetime, I have never seen anyone as passionate as he was for football and for his beloved Wallidan Football Club. It was this passion that took him to the pinnacle of West African Football through his appointment as Vice President of the West African Football Union. Mr Conateh gave all he had to the game and was instrumental in the development of our national teams. He went beyond the capital and sponsored teams in the rural areas. A businessman by profession with the biggest seafood company under his watch, OB always made time for football practices no matter how busy he was. If it was a second or third division game, Mr Football was always there. Some said that it was his way of scouting talent. Well, it worked out pretty well for him and his club. OB has done much for Gambian football.  He will be eternally engraved with the game in the country.

 Fr Joseph A Gough, Cssp,

Joe Gough was a young priest assigned to The Gambia by the Bishop of Banjul, Michael Maloney, Cssp, to open the first Catholic seminary at Fajara, some nine miles from Banjul. Fr Gough also taught at one of Gambia’s premier high schools, St Augustine’s, where he was also vice principal and in charge of all sporting activities. With the mantra that, “all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy,” this young Irish priest went on to put together the best school sports programme in Gambian history. He recruited the best athletes from other schools and brought them to St Augustine’s on scholarship. Over time, the school rose to become one of the best in both academics and sports throughout the Senegambia region. He later took over the Young Africans Football Club and put the structures in place that would later make them one of the best teams of all time. Roots Football Club was another of Fr Gough’s doing. He was a philanthropist who loved all of his students and football. He was a member of the technical committee of The Gambia Football Association until July 14th, 1983 when he left The Gambia prematurely. He is not just my hero, he is a hero to many a Gambian that walked into that front gate on Box Bar Road. What Fr Gough did for Gambian football will never be matched and it was most appropriate when The Gambia National Olympic Committee enshrined him in the Gambian Sports Hall of Fame a few years ago. 

Alhaji Momodou Njie ‘Biri’

If Biri was born, say in Brazil or Europe, he could have easily been the Pele of the world. To this day, a lot of Gambian football fans and pundits argue that there was no player better than Biri and, even the great Diego Maradona, who succeeded him at Spanish powerhouse, Sevilla, is on the record as calling Biri the greatest. Biri is, by far, the greatest Gambian football player that ever suited for our country. The many heroics and spectacular performances he put up for The Gambia speak for themselves. He has sacrificed like no other for the cause of our football development. A few years ago, I joined a group of Gambian football fans calling for the national stadium to be named for Biri. Apparently, it fell on deaf ears, but the call, which is clarion one, is still on and, indeed, if heeded, it will be a fitting tribute to the greatest Gambian footballer of all time. There never ever will be another Biri.

The 1979 Gambia National Football Team

Babou Saho and Lie Ndure were the goalkeepers, Commy Owens, Bill Badjie, Garba Touray, Ayo Jobe, Lamin Owens, AC Conteh, Baboucarr Bah (Edakarr),Bladder Sibi and Saloum Njie were the backfield, Saihou Sarr, Sherrif Jobe, Baboucarr Sowe Laos, Ebou Kah (EK) and Abdoulie Star Jallow (Captain) were the formidable midfield, while Biri, Young Saul Samba, Ndow Njie, Tony Joiner, Salimong Nyassi (Dalasi), Charlie Boy and Alagie Nyan were the goal scoring machines upfront. This Gambia national team, the idols of spectators, went into Monrovia, Liberia in 1979 and put Gambian football on the map. This was a resilient bunch that vowed never to let the Gambian fans down again and from that day on, Gambian football has never looked back in terms of the talent level. The William Tolbert Fraternity Tournament was a defining moment for the members of this team. As Saul Njie said from the Liberian airwaves into Banjul, “They poured every ounce of Gambian sweat and blood.” Indeed they did. It’s a national disgrace that most of these people are nobodies in today’s Gambia. What a shame? For me, they are my heroes, I grew up seeing these men in the traditional Gambian Ifangbondi red going to war for our country on the football field, and whether it was a win or a loss, they left it all on the field for a proud people. While they can never be repaid for their heroics and what they did for the country, it is my hope, that someday down the line, these heroes of impeccable dispositions will be given the honour they deserve from The Gambia.

 Saul Njie

Posterity will teach that Saul Njie is the best football commentator in the history of The Gambia. No man has done it like him and the many who played back in his day will tell you today that Saul was indeed their motivation. For generations to come, Saul has left eternal one liners with Gambian football fans from Banjul to Koina, who were glued to their radio handsets listening to him every Sunday. With phrases like, “The big men go up”, “Box Bar Stadium is being rocked to its very foundation”, “Here comes Abdoulie Jagne, standing hands akimbo waiting to clear his lines,” “This game has changed to a festival of bombering and thundering, known as bim bam in our local language”. He was set apart from the rest. He was unique on spot calling games and he brought people to football like never before. Outside of the football commentary box, Saul Njie was the best all round broadcaster in Gambian history. To this day, Gambians can recall when our democracy was hijacked in 1981, save for Senegalese intervention. When every broadcaster was unavailable for that tense moment, most remembered for the sound of gun shots; it was Saul Njie who manned Radio Syd by himself, reassuring the nation that all was well. Indeed, democracy was restored. While he may have been passed by for a well deserved press secretary position at the Office of the President in 1982, no one comes close to Saul Njie and what he has meant to Gambian broadcasting.  Saul is a football hero in every sense of the word.

Pap Saine

In his own way, Pap contributed to the development of football like no other. Pap Saine was multi-lingual and was the Reuters correspondent in Banjul. He had access to the international media and to a lot of French media outlets. He wrote extensively about Gambian football. Pap always made it a point that to see that Gambian footballers were serenaded in the international media.  He once told me, “We don’t have a whole lot to expose these players, this is one way it could be done.” He was as instrumental in the development of the game in The Gambia as any other.   He was the “walking Gambian sports encyclopedia.” I nicknamed him that for his knack of quickly bringing up historical facts during games. I cannot recall how many times on those Sundays, Pap would slip a note to Saul, reminding him that ten years ago or so, it was Saul Samba who scored for The Gambia against, say, Mali. The man was a unique sports journalist and he is a legend in his own right. He is a hero of mine!

Peter Louis Prom (Machu)

Today, he is the secretary general of The Gambia National Olympic Committee, but many years ago, Peter Louis Prom was the captain of the most successful Gambian Under-23 National Team. That team held the Algerian Desert Fox to a nil all draw in Banjul in 1982. He was the man that made sure I was a great soccer fan. Whether it was playing for Juffureh in Bakau or Dai-Ten at Bayeh Afdie, Peter was as instrumental as anybody in bringing me to the game. I held his boots and commuted with him all over the country as he did what he was best at, the best midfield player ever. This rare talent brought fans to their knees with his versatility in the midfield. His skills were unmatched and, for many years, until he departed for Washington DC’s Howard University, Peter Prom was the best at what he did. He has my admiration and highest respect, not only as a national soccer captain, but as the elder brother I did not have growing up. Prom Ak Eleerr, sang Ma Cha Bordeaux, I salute you and thank you for all you were and are, as a star and as a human being.

Omar Amadou Jallow

Serekunda’s favourite son, Omar Amadou Jallow, alias OJ, was a cabinet minister under the first Republic. People still argue that OJ was known more for his involvement in football compared to his high level cabinet appointment as minister responsible for water resources and the environment. A St Augustine’s High school alumni and a veteran phantoms football club player, OJ was as instrumental as anybody in bringing football to Serekunda. He ran Kwame Football Club alongside his close friend, Baboucar Barrow, a trained engineer. Together, these two men defined football in the Kombos and brought it to the same level as that of Banjul. While they may have come short on capturing the league championships, they left an indelible mark in zonal football with Serekunda winning many championships. OJ, as a state minister, was answering the national call, but he never let that portfolio come between him and his football for which he was most appreciated. He stood strong and fought for the clubs that were powerless and on no occasion did he compromise his ideals; a mantra with which he lives to this day. The people of Serekunda will forever be grateful to Omar Amadou Jallow for what he did for football in that region. He gave his time, resources and, of course, his family to develop the game eight miles away from the capital and, yes, he did it with honor and grace.

Tom King

I called him the Prince of Bakau because of his love for football and his stance at the time to see that the game progressed in Bakau. A hardworking medical dispenser by day and a football manager by evening, Tom King singlehandedly promoted the game in Bakau. He ran Dagudan Football Club alone and was never short of results. He was a very humble fellow who loved people and stood to ensure that all around him were happy. He gave as much to the game in Bakau and ensured they moved on to the top tier of Gambian football. From afar, I admired this man for all he did for the game and the people of Bakau, yet I was reluctant to have my Roots play against Dagudan. Anytime you go out of your way for the cause of people, you are indeed my hero and Tom King is one, in sum, “cogito ego sum.”

Dingareh Sports Shop at Hagan Street

Whether anyone likes it or not, I care less that football policies were made at this store and it worked. This is where all great football players met every day to map out the way forward. As a matter of fact, it also served as the unofficial headquarters of the football association at one time, because this is where every team picked up their official mail. Ebou Ndure entertained just about everybody who talked football, of course with a lot of bias towards his favorite, Real de Banjul. What this sports shop contributed towards football development is immeasurable and indeed, even though it is now defunct, it belongs to any Gambian hall of fame.

My fans

Well before March 14, 1977, I was a freelance sports writer for The Gambia Outlook and I fully recall that, after reporting on Bai Malleh Wadda’s trip to the World University Games in Bulgaria, Editor SMB Jones wrote an editor’s note informing his reading audience that one day, Tijan will celebrate being a sports journalist.  He built for me a fan base and the great people of The Gambia accepted me and loved me. They made me a celebrity and anywhere I went they treated as such. It was because of their love and support that I persevered in the profession and this was renewed again, when I returned home in 2003. I love each and every one of them and wish to thank them for this work because, without their love and support, I probably would never have thought of putting this work together. Jarama, Jerre Len Jef, Gachegalama!

 Note.’ Tijan’Massaneh Ceesay’s book on Gambian Football is available on Amazon and would soon be on sale in The Gambia. 

Author: Lamin Cham

In the example given, development communication was applied to the transfer of ‘tidal-influenced’ rice production technology to resource poor rural farmers.  It meant communication strategies and materials at certain time phases for specific groups of people involved in decision making.   
There is a great need for systematic communication technology in national development.  In this connection, the Department of Agriculture, as an institution for socio-economic development, should have a clear commitment as well as a coordinating role to rural and agricultural development.  It is pertinent, therefore, to consider the rural audience and the country side as a major operational concern of the institution.  This must also apply to the control of the broad spectrum of  communication needs for an agriculture-led growth, if we as a nation are to stay focused and relevant.   The Linkage Syndrome
As a result of the  impressive performance of the ATTG school community multi-enterprise tidal irrigation in Touba Sama, government policy makers ruled that the production system has to be adopted  if the country was to get the full benefits of the high yielding varieties and thus make the rural beneficiaries ‘live well’.  You see, with all the Philistine cries tidal irrigation is the sanctuary of our hope for generating a sustainable household food security plus a marketable surplus.  And since tidal irrigation production system needs competent technicians to manage it, a training programme was deemed necessary insurance for the success of the project.  Almost as an afterthought, the idea of institutional strengthening was appended to the plan of operations, which made it logical for AATG to train the extension technicians and credit officers.  Somehow, the special operation facility (SOF) which funded the credit and socio-economy study were badly executed as their findings main were highly suspicious.  Notwithstanding this, the project was funded for implementation but eventually failed miserably.
On closer scrutiny, the project was not staffed as expected for a tidal irrigation project.  Using the communication approach to put the project in focus revealed other ramifications that would be needed to link the training and milestone phases and to achieve the large goals assigned to the project, which are to improve the project management and cut down on economic and physical losses due to improper operational planning.
Once these objectives are accepted as valid, the project took on new dimensions.  It will have to do something about three main groups of people: the farmers – the big and small producers of rice whose harvest would start the processing chain; the processors – the owners and operators of already existing and proposed threshing machines, as well as the owners and operators of rice mills in addition to the main milling machine in Kuntaur; the consumers whose claim to quantity, quality and reasonable price should be reflected in the growth of the tidal rice industry. 
urrounding and intermingling with these core groups who also need to be informed and motivated because sometime during the life of the project and afterwards, they are going to make decisions that will affect the course of rice production in the country.  Some of them are: ·    Lending institutions/donors who will assess loan/grant applications for the new programmes/projects and for similar development programmes;
·    Legislators who will censure and draw up bills on quality control and other subjects that touch on rice production;
·    Professional communicators who can help create public awareness on the value of a good development programme/project; 
·    Present and future lending institutions/donors of the programme;
·    The people in some way related to the project, such as the steering committee, the resource persons, the staff of the Department of Agriculture;
·    Farmer/business men;
·    Farmers’ families;
·    In-school youth who will be rice farmers before long;
·    Community influentials and opinion leaders;
·    Community mechanics and repair crew.   In other words a lot more people than the technicians for whom the project was originally conceived. 
With the project objectives always as the referral point, identifying the target audiences is the first step in a communication analysis of any agricultural development project.  Such an analysis can best be outlined by this question: To what group of people; where; with what existing state of awareness of improved production process; what indigenous leadership/communication structures; what available material resources plus planned project inputs; and what existing socio-economic practices; must what new ideas, attitudes, and specific techniques on improved production processes be conveyed; when in relation to the project’s target phases;  by whom and using what communication media?
Studying the personal, economic and social characteristics of the beneficiaries in their environments is plainly the second step in the analysis.  Identifying the sort of messages for each group is the third step.  Only with ample understanding of the beneficiary groups and of the technology of improved production process can suitable strategies be devised that are likely to convince people to adopt, or make it easy for other to adopt, the recommendations of the project.  This will make us ready to plan what to say to whom and by whom; how to say it and when.
It further becomes evident from our analysis that the two principal methods of extending information – the training program and the on-farm demonstration centers – must be supplemented by others that will cater to originally unplanned for beneficiaries.  The most obvious one is diversified communication through the mass media channels.
The analysis also suggests certain strategies.  The on-farm production technology is a whole complex of practices that is not expected to take quickly in the rural communities for a number of reasons: 1.    It requires a shift to mechanisation to a lesser or greater degree.
2.    The cost of production equipments as well as inputs is relatively high.
3.    The recommended practices come up against institutionalized work habits and patterns.
4.    At the village level the problem is still the same old one of increasing production.  The national concept of second-generation problems loses some of its validity in the face of this local fact.
5.    Introducing machines at this time will displace people who have no alternative sources of income. These conditions confirm the soundness of the proposed strategy to use farmer’s associations as a key communication channel for increased and sustained rice production technology.  Another strategy suggested by the analysis is not propagating all the production technology all at once in its entirety or in the chronological sequence in the villages.  The best move appears to be to identify the production aspect most needed in an area and to begin from there.  The other aspects can be emphasised as the village people themselves begin to see the need for them in relation to the first aspect, begin to be dissatisfied with the old methods, and as the situational factors change.
Manual land preparation, transplanting, harvesting and threshing are so laborious that without the aid of some time and labour saving device farmers and their families may not enjoy a decent standard of living. To encourage regul ar double/triple cropping, farms would readily appreciate the need for more efficient drying methods in the wet season.  The drying technology could then be the foot in the door, so to speak, for the whole body of recommended production techniques..    Summary
In summary, development communication for an agriculture-led growth through improved rice production process means the communication strategies and materials that will be needed to support the development objectives of an agriculture-led growth. More than this, it means the idea of planning the materials and strategies in advance for certain well-thought-out purposes, for specified groups of people, at certain time phases.  It includes the motivational research that will be called for and the evaluation of the effectiveness of the communication materials and strategies.  Most of all, it is viewing the project as a multi-level communication campaign that will teach people new skills about improved production system, create receptive attitudes to the production innovations, and spread knowledge of all aspects of production throughout the country.  With the communication approach, we translate the objectives of the intervention programme/project in terms of people who are, after all, the real target of development.
One other thing needs to be mentioned.  If our analysis is not to remain an academic exercise, the communication dimensions added to the project must be given proper staffing and performance-based financing.  With the hope of a well defined and programmed development communication support for an agriculture-led growth, prospects are bright that the rural poor will start “living well” as a precondition to wealth creation and asset owning. Ends. Mr Jaiteh, a native of Bakau is a development consultant and a former permanent secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Author: Suruwa B Wawa Jaiteh

The Gambia National team (1961)
Standing; From left to right; Gaira Lamin (alive), Abdoulie Ngum,(alive) Sulayman Samba (deceased), Pa Touray  ( Abess, goalkeeper  who later became a famous singer) deceased; Aziz Coker (Cut away) (deceased), Yusupha Mboob (deceased) and Saul Jeng (deceased).
Kneeling; Edmond Thomas ( alive) George Gomez( 404 (alive) , Salifu Ndure in circle (deseased), Solomon Gomez (Garicha, alive) and Bani Forster (deceased)
Lying down;  Lamin Touray (deceased)

So, I asked George Gomez to present the career of his old team mate who sadly died sometime ago. And here is George Gomez’s story of the late Alhaji Salifu Ndure:
Salifu Ndure was undoubtedly one of the greatest and most reliable football players the Gambia ever produced and certainly the first youngest player to be capped for the national team, at the tender age of just 17.
Born in 1937, he attended the Overage Primary and Crab Island Secondary Schools where he played football representing his schools and earning a name for himself as a great potential in football. This was in the early 1950s. In 1953 he was scouted by the famous Mr LL Prom who signed for Atomic football club and later transferred him to the senior Augustinians football club becoming the youngest   in that team. But his skills soon made him lots of friends among the older players who helped to build his confidence to become the player he eventually became. 
His greatest moments in the national jersey included The Gambia against Sierra Leone in 1957 in Banjul when The Gambia won by 3 goals to 1 with Daddy Tamba scoring two goals and Salifu Ndure supplying the oil.
In 1958 he was again selected for the return match in Sierra Leone after which he became a regular starter in nearly all Gambia’s matches until 1978 when he retired from active football.
During long spell as national team player Salifu Ndure played against national teams of Senegal, Mali, Cape Verde, Liberia, Sierra Leone, France, Guinea Bissau, Republic of Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire and Gabon among others.
At club level he was every manager’s darling and was convinced by Amadou Taal to sign for the White Phantoms football club where played until 1963 before moving to Arrance Football Club, staying there until 1967 when he was employed by the Police and had to play for the Police team.
Salifu was a member of the Gambia’s memorable Kwame Nkrumah Gold Cup team and played in both the first and second legs which saw Senegal won by 4 goals to 2 at the Box Bar Stadium and in Dakar, in Gambia winning by 3 goals to 2 in 1962 at the Stade Iba Mar Diop.
Salifu was a highly rated and resolute left wing back, very strong and fast who started as a winger at school but was transformed to an attacking wing back who was terrific at the overlap.
He retired from active football in 1978 and was appointed trainer of the Gambia Police team. He was also the trainer of Starlight and Musa Njie Football Teams and while on postings in Mansa Konko he took over as coach of the Lower River Division football.
He always attributed his success in Football to the late Mr Bai Ndodey Njie, Games Master at Crab Island and the late Mr LLProm the legendary Manager of Augustinians Football Club.
Salifu Ndure departed this life on 24th October 2013 and was laid to rest 25th October at the New Jeshwang Cemetery.
Gone but will never be forgotten. You gave us your time, represented our beloved country and really entertained us with your timely overlaps on the left wing. You were fun to watch and we thank you for Gambian football would not have been where it is now without the contribution of past heroes like you. Rest in Peace. Compiled by George Gomez former Gambian international and executive secretary of GNOC and author of Milestones in Gambian Football.

Author: Lamin Cham

According to him, close to 1000 athletes in addition to teachers, fans and officials would attend this maiden provincial edition slated for Farafenni from this Friday March 14 to Sunday 16th.
Commenting on the preparations, Gomez said the initial concern about logistical problems has been largely overcome and the event is now expected to be smooth and successful.
The event will be graced by the presence of Basic Education Minister Fatou Lamin Faye among other ministers and senior education and government officials.
Meanwhile commentators have hinted that when successful, the foundation will be laid for future decentralization of the event, which in turn is expected to inspire development of sports infrastructure in the regions.
”This would become more necessary especially when access to the Independence stadium is not possible as it is the case now with the current repair work on the tracks,” one official noted.

Author: Lamin Cham

The other prominent member of course is the new chairman Lamin King Kolley, a  charismatic sports administrator  who now takes the mantle of overseeing the policy direction of the ministry at its technical arm  He is supported as vice president by Elizabeth Bahoum a prominent veteran basketball player.
On the administration side, the NSC has got a new organography with the daily running of secretariat  now headed by an executive director among other newly created portfolios.
Once inaugurated, Mr Kolley and his group would now get to brass tacks to run the NSC in tandem with new urgency injected into the entire organs of the sports ministry to ensure effective governing of national sports  associations.
Soon after his appointment as chairman, Mr Kolley told journalists that his approach would be one of dialogue and reconciliation, an apparent reference to some nagging disputes among the sports fraternity, especially the Olympic sports family. Today’s ceremony would be presided over the minister of youth and sports Alieu K Jammeh.

Author: Lamin Cham

a release issued by the union states.
Following the opening of the Basse Office in May 2005, teachers could only access services either in Basse or in Kanifing. However, with the construction of its headquarters (Teacher House) and its subsequent relocation from the main union headquarters (GTU Secretariat) in 2008, the leadership thought more could be done to further decentralize operations.
Thus the leadership, in 2012 finalised a three-year strategic document highlighting a host of projects to be embarked on to move the credit union to the next level. Among them was a decentralisation plan to be completed by December 2015.
However, when the Department of National Treasury (DNT) announced plans to transfer salaries of civil servants to the banks, the leadership of the credit union quickly embarked on a study to see how the implementation of the DNT decision could impact on teachers and on their work. The study revealed some interesting findings. For instance, Central River Region has no bank and this will compel teachers in the region to travel outside their region each month, spend money on transport fares and probably stay away from school for a day just to collect their salaries. The ramifications on quality education delivery could leave too much to be desired.
Thus when the findings were presented to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, an agreement was reached to transfer teachers’ salaries to the GTUCCU who thought maintaining the paymaster system would be better for teachers. This agreement compelled the GTUCCU to complete its decentralization process immediately. Hence by June 2013 all regional offices were opened and provided with at least three staff including a paymaster for each region. Strengthening the regional offices
The regional offices have been operational since June 2013, consequently making access to services easier for teachers. All services available at the headquarters are also available in the regions thus teachers need not travel long distances to access services.
Subsequently, the leadership purchased new generators and air conditioners to further equip the regional offices as well as enhance their work. With the provision of the aforementioned equipment, salary payment, for instance, can go on even after night fall to expedite the process.
The leadership of the credit union, while making plans for expansion, also thought of acquiring new software, (jointly with sister credit unions) designed to handle our operations with efficiency. The new software (the abacus) enables the credit union to network all regional offices and accord the general manager the opportunity to monitor transactions in all offices just on the click of a button. This would require the regional offices to have reliable power supply which the generators will help ensure.
Furthermore, the GTUCCU is playing host to the shared-branching scheme of the project in Basse, Farafenni and Soma. Under this scheme, the GTUCCU will accommodate eleven (11) sister credit unions, providing them with space, electricity, water and internet connectivity, to use the same software (the abacus) to serve their members.
The next phase of the decentralization will witness the acquisition of land and construction of permanent structures for all regional offices.
In conclusion, the credit union continues to import motor cycles for teachers to ease movement and curb the rising cost of transport fares that teachers continue to incur. The motor cycles are reliable, strong and durable fitted with 150 horse power engines.