QCell, one of the country's GSM companies, in its drive to live and operate by their corporate responsibility as well as to fulfil its commitment to the socio-economic development of this country, last Monday signed a D2M contract with The Gambia Radio and Television Services (GRTS), at a ceremony held at the GRTS complex on MDI Road in Kanifing.

This two million dalasis contract is meant for the sponsorship of a special drama series called "Telenovela", which will be run on GRTS. The signing of this contract agreement by the heads of the two institutions (GRTS & QCell) is a manifestation of the private sector participation in the development of GRTS, the only national television outfit of The Gambia.

Alhaji Momodou Sanayang, director general of GRTS, on behalf of his institution, thanked Muhammed Jah for his foresight and contribution to the development activities of GRTS. On behalf of the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, who is also the minister for Communication, Information and Information Technology, the GRTS boss thanked QCell for patronising this product, a partnership he said will help expand the television's viewership internationally.

For his part, Muhammed Jah, chief executive officer of QCell, said his company is not only interested in the monetary value of the contract, but its impact, going by its slogan: Sunu Boss, meaning 'ours'. The contract, he noted, came at a time when GRTS is on satellite, adding that the dream of a satellite TV can only be realised by having government-private sector partnership promoting its activities.

According to Abdou Touray, manager of television programmes at GRTS, the contract avails QCell, the sponsor, the opportunity to sell its products and services in and outside The Gambia. He revealed that the film, which commences on the 1st of July, has 120 episodes and will run for 18 months.