Turkey donates media equipment to Gambia

By Mustapha K. Darboe

BANJUL, Gambia

Turkey made a donation of vital media equipment to Gambian state TV, the channel head said on Friday.

The €130,000 ($152,764) worth of grant for Gambia Radio & Television Services (GRTS) came as the the country prepares for the Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit in 2019.

Abdou MK Touray, the Director-General of the GRTS, told Anadolu Agency that the donations came at a time when they were struggling with inadequate cameras.

“These are very essential equipment for our operations as a public broadcaster… This is the second time Turkey makes such donations to GRTS,” Touray said.

“We now have twelve new cameras… We are lack of cameras and the demand on them has always been high,” he added.

The new equipment includes twelve cameras, laptops and other studios gadgets.

Ebrima Sillah, the Gambian Communication Minister, praised the donation as “great initiative” in his handover speech at the ministry.

Ismail Sefa Yuceer, the Turkish ambassador to Gambia, on his part, said the new equipment will “enhance the GRTS’ activity ahead of the OIC summit”.

It is the second time in almost five years that Turkey made such donations to the GRTS.

The Gambian justice ministry, army and judiciary also benefited from Turkish donations a couple of months ago.