50517
The Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh Friday decorated eight officers of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) who were earlier promoted to various ranks in the army.
The promoted officers are Sering Modou Njie, promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General; Madanne Senghore, Navy Captain to Commodore; Alhaji Martin, Bora Colley and Sulayman Badgie, all promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel; Amadou Pajero Jammeh, Salifu Corr and Pa Halli Gibba, all promoted to Captain from the ranks of WO2, staff sergeant and corporal respectively.
The occasion also saw the swearing-in of 54 personnel of GAF including junior and senior officers, who were also recently promoted to various ranks in the army. Like the previous batches of officers who were sworn-in, this latest batch of military officers also took six different oaths of allegiance to the state, the citizens and the commander-in-chief of GAF, trust, office and secrecy administered by the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Harry Sambou.
The officers who held the Holy Books according to their faith while taking the oaths had promised the leadership and the entire citizenry that they will bear true allegiance and absolute loyalty, as well as working towards the maintenance of high standard of unity, discipline, camaraderie and progress in the armed others, amongst others.
Speaking on behalf of President Jammeh who left before the end of the ceremony, the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, congratulated the officers, describing the occasion as a special one. She told the officers that The Gambia as a nation is proud of its security and armed forces, declaring that President Jammeh is the cause of that pride given the investments he has put into peace and security. While stressing that the president has concern for the welfare of soldiers and their families, VP Njie-Saidy further urged them to maintain a high standard of loyalty at all times.
She enjoined the officers to keep reminding themselves of the six oaths taken in the executions of their work. "Be loyal to your country and the commander-in-chief who is the president. That is what is expected of you. His Excellency always says that he does not joke with peace and security in this country. He does not only say it but exhibits it by his actions. Instability, he doesn't allow in this country. Why are people proud of us as Gambians, our country and the head of state besides the good work we have done in development? It is because of peace and stability," she pointed out.
She further pointed out that peace and stability is something that no amount of money or an individual can buy, urging the officers to jealously guard these. "Why is The Gambia the gem of Africa today and by extension the world? It is because of the peace and stability we enjoy, let us not take it for granted as others are looking for it but could not have it," she added. She commended the commander-in-chief and the armed and security services for the existing peace and stability, and for their pivotal and outstanding role in various peacekeeping operations in different parts of the world.
The vice president urged officers to reciprocate the transformation the president has made in the armed forces ranging from their welfare to high admirable military ranks, underscoring that there is a big difference in today's GAF compared to what it was in the past. "We know where we are today and where we were yesterday. The president has provided everything within his means to the army. So it is now left for you to give back," she said, stressing that the president goes out of his way to ensure that the enabling environment is provided for every officer and soldier to operate efficiently. While further advising the newly promoted officers to redouble their efforts, Dr Njie-Saidy also enjoined others to be hard working so as to be also rewarded.
Speaking earlier, Lamin Kaba Bajo, the minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, reminded the officers that promotions are meant to reward some for their hard work, while at the same time serves as a challenge and encouragement to others not promoted. Having experienced the past as a soldier himself, Minister Bajo told the officers that they envy the current members of the armed and security services, taking into account what has been given to them in terms of remuneration and welfare amongst others. He urged them to be thankful to Allah for giving somebody to them who passed through such difficult moments in the army.
He stressed that due to relentless efforts deployed by the president in making the army a more robust and professional one, it is today not considered as a venture for school drop-outs and those who have nowhere to go. He opined that today the army has become very competitive, citing the fact that it has amongst its midst experts in divers areas thanks to President Jammeh.
The Fisheries minister also urged the officers to be loyal to the country and their commander-in-chief. Fatou Lamin Faye, the Basic and Secondary Education minister equally expressed similar sentiments. Harry Sambou, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence also urged the officers to reciprocate what the president has done for them, saying, "to whom much is given, much is required". He advised the officers to take the oath very seriously as they have undertaken to do certain things both in their office, in the street and as citizens. "Every single member of the armed forces is someone to be emulated in the society, within your office, your ranks, and within your family," he advised, urging the officers and soldiers not to abuse their uniforms in the society.
Permanent secretary Sambou concluded by imploring the men and women of the armed forces to act as ambassadors of The Gambia Armed Forces, while highlighting the numerous supports extended to the army by the president. Speaking earlier, Lt. Gen. Masanneh Kinteh, the chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of GAF, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of the armed forces thanked the president and commander-in-chief for not only approving the promotions of the officers but also accepting to decorate them. CDS Kinteh also thanked the president for the visionary leadership and support to the armed forces, which he said has created the enabling environment for them to effectively carry out their constitutional mandate. "Promotions in the armed forces like many other institutions is a rare privilege that is meant to encourage and reward personnel for hard work, through devotion to duty, through expression of loyalty and commitment," he indicated.
From another perspective, CDS Kinteh also underscored that promotions in the army are also a clear testimony of the high regards the president and the commander-in-chief has for GAF. He described the move as a demonstration of the government's commitment for the general development of the armed forces, which he said is undergoing tremendous growth.
He stressed that promotion in GAF poses a challenge to those officers as it calls for more effort, dedication, self-discipline, loyalty and commitment. CDS Kinteh concluded by assuring the president and commander-in-chief of their continuous loyalty and dedication at all times.
The Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh Friday decorated eight officers of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF) who were earlier promoted to various ranks in the army.
The promoted officers are Sering Modou Njie, promoted from Colonel to Brigadier General; Madanne Senghore, Navy Captain to Commodore; Alhaji Martin, Bora Colley and Sulayman Badgie, all promoted from Lieutenant Colonel to Colonel; Amadou Pajero Jammeh, Salifu Corr and Pa Halli Gibba, all promoted to Captain from the ranks of WO2, staff sergeant and corporal respectively.
The occasion also saw the swearing-in of 54 personnel of GAF including junior and senior officers, who were also recently promoted to various ranks in the army. Like the previous batches of officers who were sworn-in, this latest batch of military officers also took six different oaths of allegiance to the state, the citizens and the commander-in-chief of GAF, trust, office and secrecy administered by the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence, Harry Sambou.
The officers who held the Holy Books according to their faith while taking the oaths had promised the leadership and the entire citizenry that they will bear true allegiance and absolute loyalty, as well as working towards the maintenance of high standard of unity, discipline, camaraderie and progress in the armed others, amongst others.
Speaking on behalf of President Jammeh who left before the end of the ceremony, the vice president and minister of Women's Affairs, Her Excellency Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, congratulated the officers, describing the occasion as a special one. She told the officers that The Gambia as a nation is proud of its security and armed forces, declaring that President Jammeh is the cause of that pride given the investments he has put into peace and security. While stressing that the president has concern for the welfare of soldiers and their families, VP Njie-Saidy further urged them to maintain a high standard of loyalty at all times.
She enjoined the officers to keep reminding themselves of the six oaths taken in the executions of their work. "Be loyal to your country and the commander-in-chief who is the president. That is what is expected of you. His Excellency always says that he does not joke with peace and security in this country. He does not only say it but exhibits it by his actions. Instability, he doesn't allow in this country. Why are people proud of us as Gambians, our country and the head of state besides the good work we have done in development? It is because of peace and stability," she pointed out.
She further pointed out that peace and stability is something that no amount of money or an individual can buy, urging the officers to jealously guard these. "Why is The Gambia the gem of Africa today and by extension the world? It is because of the peace and stability we enjoy, let us not take it for granted as others are looking for it but could not have it," she added. She commended the commander-in-chief and the armed and security services for the existing peace and stability, and for their pivotal and outstanding role in various peacekeeping operations in different parts of the world.
The vice president urged officers to reciprocate the transformation the president has made in the armed forces ranging from their welfare to high admirable military ranks, underscoring that there is a big difference in today's GAF compared to what it was in the past. "We know where we are today and where we were yesterday. The president has provided everything within his means to the army. So it is now left for you to give back," she said, stressing that the president goes out of his way to ensure that the enabling environment is provided for every officer and soldier to operate efficiently. While further advising the newly promoted officers to redouble their efforts, Dr Njie-Saidy also enjoined others to be hard working so as to be also rewarded.
Speaking earlier, Lamin Kaba Bajo, the minister of Fisheries, Water Resources and National Assembly Matters, reminded the officers that promotions are meant to reward some for their hard work, while at the same time serves as a challenge and encouragement to others not promoted. Having experienced the past as a soldier himself, Minister Bajo told the officers that they envy the current members of the armed and security services, taking into account what has been given to them in terms of remuneration and welfare amongst others. He urged them to be thankful to Allah for giving somebody to them who passed through such difficult moments in the army.
He stressed that due to relentless efforts deployed by the president in making the army a more robust and professional one, it is today not considered as a venture for school drop-outs and those who have nowhere to go. He opined that today the army has become very competitive, citing the fact that it has amongst its midst experts in divers areas thanks to President Jammeh.
The Fisheries minister also urged the officers to be loyal to the country and their commander-in-chief. Fatou Lamin Faye, the Basic and Secondary Education minister equally expressed similar sentiments. Harry Sambou, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Defence also urged the officers to reciprocate what the president has done for them, saying, "to whom much is given, much is required". He advised the officers to take the oath very seriously as they have undertaken to do certain things both in their office, in the street and as citizens. "Every single member of the armed forces is someone to be emulated in the society, within your office, your ranks, and within your family," he advised, urging the officers and soldiers not to abuse their uniforms in the society.
Permanent secretary Sambou concluded by imploring the men and women of the armed forces to act as ambassadors of The Gambia Armed Forces, while highlighting the numerous supports extended to the army by the president. Speaking earlier, Lt. Gen. Masanneh Kinteh, the chief of Defence Staff (CDS) of GAF, on behalf of the officers and soldiers of the armed forces thanked the president and commander-in-chief for not only approving the promotions of the officers but also accepting to decorate them. CDS Kinteh also thanked the president for the visionary leadership and support to the armed forces, which he said has created the enabling environment for them to effectively carry out their constitutional mandate. "Promotions in the armed forces like many other institutions is a rare privilege that is meant to encourage and reward personnel for hard work, through devotion to duty, through expression of loyalty and commitment," he indicated.
From another perspective, CDS Kinteh also underscored that promotions in the army are also a clear testimony of the high regards the president and the commander-in-chief has for GAF. He described the move as a demonstration of the government's commitment for the general development of the armed forces, which he said is undergoing tremendous growth.
He stressed that promotion in GAF poses a challenge to those officers as it calls for more effort, dedication, self-discipline, loyalty and commitment. CDS Kinteh concluded by assuring the president and commander-in-chief of their continuous loyalty and dedication at all times.
