Ghanaian troops serving under the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia (ECOMIG) have donated learning materials to the Sitanunku Nursery and Lower Basic School, in a gesture aimed at strengthening ties with the community.
The donation was made as part of the Ghanaian contingent’s ongoing efforts to build trust and foster closer relationships with the people they serve.
Speaking at the presentation, Major Dawda Abdul Samed Vincent, second-in-command of the Ghana Contingent 9, said the initiative reflects their commitment to “service to humanity and to the people of The Gambia.”
“We believe that winning the hearts and minds of the people is more important and necessary than anything,” he told the gathering on behalf of Lieutenant Colonel Agbemafle Yaw Ronne, the contingent’s commanding officer. “Once we can win the trust of the local population, we will be able to achieve what is needed in peacebuilding.”
Deputy Headmistress Awa Touray welcomed the support, describing the donation as “timely and one of its kind.” She assured the school would make good use of the materials, praising the Ghanaian peacekeepers as “friendly and among the best.”
Addressing students and parents, Madam Touray used the occasion to highlight the importance of girls’ education. “With girls’ education, the sky is the limit,” she said, urging pupils to take their studies seriously regardless of their background. She reminded them that many African presidents began their education in rural areas.
