In a move transcending its traditional role of law enforcement, the Gambia Police (GPF), yesterday morning presented a consignment of food items to the Jammeh Foundation for Peace (JFP).

The presentation was done through the Board of Directors of the Foundation at a ceremony held at the Police Headquarters in Banjul. The donated items include 21 bags of groundnut, 26 bags of coos, 8 bags of millet and 6 bags of maize. The items are said to be proceeds gained from farms cultivated by the police in Kiti, Mariama Kunda,Yundum and a number of places in the provinces.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Ensa Badjie, Inspector General of Police (IGP), said that the police decided to cultivate crops in many parts of the country in response to President Jammeh's back-to-the-land call. He said that the police deemed it necessary to donate the farm produce to JFP as part of their efforts to contribute to national development. He described the move as another way of strengthening the community policing initiative.

IGP Badjie commended President Jammeh for his untiring efforts to develop the nation as well as change the Gambia Police Force into a modern police institution. He recalled the Gambian leader's magnanimous gesture, last year, in giving out 7 tickets to members of the Police Wives' Association to go on pilgrimage in Mecca. IGP Badjie concluded by thanking President Jammeh for donating over 16 brand new vehicles to the GPF, last year.

Ansumana Jammeh, executive director of JFP, commended the police for the initiative and described the donation as historic.  Bai Matarr Drammeh, a board member of the Foundation, thanked the police for the gesture. He promised that the board will inform the vice president, Aja Dr Isatou Njie-Saidy, who is also the chairperson of JFP, about the benevolent gesture.

He called on the others to emulate the Gambia Police Force.  The ceremony, which was chaired by ASP Sulayman Secka - public relations officer of the Gambia Police Force, was attended by Board members of the Foundation and senior police officers.