The Embassy of the Republic of Japan based in Dakar, Senegal, yesterday signed two grant projects with The Gambia Red Cross Society (GRCS) and the Methodist Mission Agricultural Programme amounting to a total of D4, 605, 220 at a ceremony held at the Dunes  Resort in Kololi.

According to the terms of the first grant project, the Japan Embassy will provide the sum of D2 377 000 to the GRCS for the purchase of two ambulances for its Community Ambulance Service Project; while in the second grant project, it will disburse the sum of D2 228 220 to the Methodist Mission Agricultural Programme for the construction of a mango processing training centre and the procurement of facilities and necessary equipment.

The secretary general at the Japanese Embassy, Takuya Sei signed on behalf of his Embassy, while Momodou Bah, the secretary general of GRCS and Albert Malcolm Bankole Clarke, Board chairman of the Methodist Mission Agricultural Programme signed on behalf of their institutions. Shortly after the signing ceremony, Takuya Sei said the signing of the two grant contracts symbolises Japan government’s continuous commitment to support basic sectors in The Gambia that contributes to improving the standard of living of the people.

He said the Japanese government has been providing small and flexible grants to support development projects at grassroots level through Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects. He disclosed that since the inception of the programme in The Gambia in 1996, the Japanese government has funded eighteen projects in the country. The purchase of two ambulances for the GRCS, Sei observed, will improve its timely and effective emergency service response, while the construction of a mango processing training centre will enable the Methodist Mission to train farmers on post-harvest in order to improve their yearly income.

While commending the two beneficiary institutions for their efforts in serving human interest over the years, Sei expressed hope that the two projects would significantly improve the standard of living of the people. Momodou Bah, the secretary general of GRCS and Albert Malcolm Bankole Clarke, Board chairman of the Methodist Mission Agricultural Programme mutually agreed that the awarding of the grants to their respective institutions is a show of Japanese government’s commitment to serving the interest of the people.

Bah observed that the purchase of the two ambulances for the GRCS would greatly remedy the transportation difficulties some patients encounter during accidents and other emergencies. They both thanked the government of Japan through its Dakar Embassy for the support and vowed that their institutions will live up to expectations by implementing the projects in the most proper manner.