Mayor Kolley: I Prefer GAMCEL

Lord Mayor Kolley of KMC

By Abdoulie Nget

The mayor of Kanifing Municipal Council said, although he subscribes to all the four GSM companies in The Gambia, he prefers the state-owned, Gamcel.

“Anytime I have a brand new mobile phone, I insert my Gamcel card in it because I respect Gamcel,” he said. “I have all the [four] GSM operators, but I prefer Gamcel.”

The Gambia Cellular Company (GAMCEL), a brainchild of The Gambia Telecommunications Company (GAMTEL) is the first cellular network provider in the country.

The birth of GAMCEL on May 25, 2001 has given rise to a competitive telecommunication sector – one of the main drivers of the economy of natural resource-poor Gambia. Private-owned GSM companies: Africell in 2003, Comium in 2007 and Qcell in 2009 have all joined the fray.

Called ‘Yaay Borom,’ a Wolof term used by advertising agents in describing the state/public ownership, GAMCEL celebrated ten year anniversary in a grand style on Wednesday at its headquarters in Kanifing.

Speaking at the event, Mayor Yankuba Kolley said, patronising Gamcel is a contribution towards national development as it is state-owned and it ploughs its profit back to the public.

As the event coincided with the birthday of Gambian president, Yahya Jammeh, Kolley extended birthday greetings to President Jammeh and commended him for establishing GAMCEL.

GAMCEL’s General Manager,  Phoday Ceesay, also commended President Jammeh, who he said, is the man behind the establishment Gamcel.

“I am very thankful to our customers who make to be what we are today,” he said.

Mr Kebba Bojang, the senior sales manager of GAMCEL and Ndey Sainabou Jeng, alias ‘Yaye Minister,’ Gamcel’s major advertising agent, are among other speakers at the event.

Meanwhile, prominent Gambian artists, including Kora Maestro, Jaliba Kuyateh, afromanding star, Sambou Sosso, Nancy Nanz and Balaranks, among others.

And birthday presents from Senegambia craft market, Banjul craft market, Baby Mariama Jammeh group, Happy Sisters and Gamcel Sisters, among others, were presented to GAMCEL.