President of Gambia, Adama Barrow, has launched Covid-19 food aid worth D734,25, 864.
While disclosing this at the McCarty Square in Banjul on Sunday April 26, 2020, Barrow stated that the food aid was aimed at supporting the needy Gambian households.
According to him, the government will distribute 360,000 bags of 50kg of 100% broken rice, 50kg bags of sugar and 10 litre drums of refined cooking oil to needy Gambian citizens across the country.
“Following a thorough review exercise, an amount of D734,254,864 worth of food items is now available to support 84% deserving households countrywide. Such support will include rice, oil and sugar to each of the vulnerable households identified,” Barrow said.
He added that the support was different from the D500 million already earmarked for the country’s Ministry of Health.
“That amount is to upgrade and sufficiently strengthen the health system to address the covid-19 challenges and beyond.
“My government recognises that Gambians deserve an urgent national response to both the health and socio-economic crises resulting from losses in productivity and remittances to Gambian households,” he added.
He stated that they will ensure that any support provided to the citizens, especially the vulnerable, is really valuable.
“Conscious of the difficulties that confront many households, the government has devised strict measures to ensure that our food stock is secure. I am informed by the Ministry of Trade that supplies of rice, sugar, flour and other food items are available,” he explained.
President Barrow explained further that his government is intensifying efforts to make sure that prohibitive prices, hoarding or attempting to smuggle food items outside the country are strictly controlled.
“Transparency and accountability form the cornerstone of our governance system. To uphold these principles and guarantee financial discipline and management of the resources available for the pandemic, a single government account has been opened to cater for rapid one-stop financial transactions,” he noted.
“A donation committee has already been set up to coordinate all donations regarding covid-19, and a National Response Coordinator has been identified.
“This decision is meant to expedite efficient and effective processes in the management and provision of socio-economic support, while keeping the public informed and updated on such processes,” he concluded.
