The Ghanaian troops based in Barra as part of the ECOMIG force have donated assorted soft drinks and packed food items, to the children of the Catholic Diocese of Banjul to celebrate this year’s Christmas festivities. The troops donated the items to the Parish Priest of the Saint Matthew’s Catholic Church at Barra, Reverend Father Kofi Bour Offeh, in the afternoon of Tuesday, 22 December 2020 in a short ceremony at the church.
According to the Ghanaian Contingent Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Richard Danso Nimako, his contingent would have wished to host the children in their camp as a group amid music and other forms of entertainment but for the COVID-19 pandemic. The commander said that this move is a way of thanking the people of Barra in particular and all Gambians in general for the support they have been giving to the current Ghanaian troops since their arrival in the country almost a year ago. He advised the children to live good lives as Jesus Christ did so that they become good and responsible citizens in future.
Ghana is a country made up of both Christians and Moslems and both religions have lived together peacefully for centuries. It will be recalled that the Ghanaian troops also presented educational materials to an Islamic school in Barra during the Eid celebrations. It is to show the diversity that the contingent also decided to donate the food and other items to the Catholic church.
The Parish Priest of the Saint Matthew’s church at Barra, Reverend Father Kofi Bour, who is also a Ghanaian, thanked the troops for the donation. He indicated that the food and drinks were enough to go around the estimated 400 children in the Diocese. He also prayed for the Ghanaians to have a successful tour of duty in The Gambia and in their future endeavours. The Banjul Diocese comprises parishes such as the Saint Matthew’s at Barra, Saint Micheal at Njongon, Saint Vincent de Paul at Amdalai, Our Lady of Visitation at Bakindick, Saint Bridget at Kessewa, Saint Luke’s at Bakalar, Saint John’s at Touba Kolong and Saint Peter and Paul at Albreda.
The items were presented on behalf of the Ghanaians by their delegation led by Captain Jibril Osman (Company Commander), Captain Mbrah Aikens (Medical Officer), Lieutenant Jennifer Adobea Nkrumah (Officer-in-Charge, Civil-Military Cooperation) and Senior Warrant Officer Zakaria Issifu (Company Sergeant Major).
