At least six staff of the Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS) were on Wednesday awarded for their outstanding achievements in 2008 at a ceremony held at the new GRTS building, located along MDI Road in Kanifing.

Amadou Bah was presented with the Best Reporter (Radio) award; Flora Richard with the Best Presenter (Radio); Mberry Jabang, Best TV Presenter; Mamud Touray, head of GRTS' Camera Department, received the Best Employee of the Year award (TV) while Lamin Njie received the Best Employee of the Year award for the radio.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Fatim Badjie-Janneh, secretary of state for Communication, Information and Information Technology (DoSCIIT), said her dream is to put GRTS on satellite by the year 2010. SoS Badjie-Janneh assured her staff that 2009 will be a year of positive changes for the institution. "Changes should be made, programmes should be initiated and the public have to be satisfied," she remarked. She called on Gambians to help develop the country's TV station.

She finally said that the awardees are worthy of emulation. For his part, Alhagie Cham, permanent secretary at the Department of State for Communication, Information and Information Technology (DoSCIIT), said the award ceremony will be a continuing programme.

PS Cham further added that GRTS has now got almost all the equipment that a TV station needs, therefore, its staff should be given training opportunities to perform well and excel in their work. Momodou Sanyang, director general of GRTS said the public has a right to complain when they are not satisfied and called on his staff to redouble their efforts.

Director General Sanyang also raised the issue of staff motivation, commitment and dedication to their duties. Sering Faye, director of Radio and TV Programmes, on behalf of his staff, thanked SoS Badjie-Janneh and Director General Sanyang for initiating the award ceremony. Faye assured SoS Badjie-Janneh that his staff will work hard to improve the institution.