By Olimatou Coker
Burfut Sanchaba has on Wednesday inaugurated 44 new street lights worth over 188,000 dalasis.
According to members of the community this goodwill gesture is initiated by a native of Brufut who is currently in the US.
Speaking, Assan Manneh, a banker who also the initiator of the project, said he was inspired by his dad because he was the first person who initiated the street light project in the other part of Brufut.
“He informed me about his plans to light up Brufut Central and around the Brufut cemetery and hoping it will prompt others to follow and light up Brufut. 2020 was a difficult year. Our goal was to bring some joy to the community and give back”.
He added that they hope this will inspire other Brufut natives in the diaspora to come together and light up individual neighborhoods. “We cannot expect government to solve all our problems.”
He stated that citizens must take control of their own destiny, come together, pull resources together, and develop our villages, towns, and cities.
“When I created a WhatsApp group, I reached out to couple of people that used to live around our area. The majority of them are all living in the diaspora. It took us less than 10 days of collecting funds, signing a contract, and before you know it, the lights were lit up. A group effort is also faster than going alone,” he explained.
Manneh thanked his mother and the elders, and more importantly his fellow group members in the diaspora, and in The Gambia for making this project a success.
Saying that they have folks from the United States, the UK, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Belgium, and Italy. “We installed 44 solar street lights and it was very cost-effective.”
Alasan Gassama, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of ABK Enterprise, said his company is focused on solar light installation and borehole drilling.
He added that they have so far covered 15 communities in the country.
He thanked the community for supporting and trusting his company for the project.
Also speaking, Fatou Chorr, the initiator of the project, thanked all those who contributed towards the success of the project particularly women and youths.
Yamundow, as she is widely known, added that this kind of initiative will complement government’s efforts.
Lamin Bojang, a native of Burfut, said Assan’s father was the first person who initiated this street lights project in Brufut and Assan emulated his father.
He said their target is to extend the project in other areas like from Brufut Gamtel Junction to Ghana Town.
“All the 44 new street lights installed in Brufut Sanchaba here are all with remote control and they are all solar lighting”.
