By Kebba Ansu Manneh
Lamin J. K. Sanneh, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Secretariat in Banjul has disclosed to the press that, the much anticipated November, 2019 Summit will not be financed by Gambian taxpayers but rather through grants and goodwill gestures from OIC member countries.
He made this revelation at a presser today at the Petroleum House in Bijilo, where he also disclosed that preparations are on high gears to hosting a very successful and memorable summit in Banjul.
“We are not using taxpayers money to finance this conference but rather through grants from our partners in the organization,” Sanneh revealed to the press.
The Organization of Islamic Conference is the second biggest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations comprising of 57 countries across the globe mainly Islamic and Muslim countries. The Gambia will be the host for the Organization’s next biennial summit after Turkey, the current Chair of the organization.
“The overall budget for the OIC from now against the summit is two hundred and sixty million dollars which is mainly coming from member states of the organization. So far Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain are the countries that have intervened as far as the summit is concern,” OIC Secretariat Chief said.
Sanneh said the hosting of the summit in The Gambia is no longer a dream but a reality and the government of The Gambia have taken all necessary measures to hosting a successful and memorable summit in Banjul, noting that his office is mandated by the government of The Gambia to look into the provision of key infrastructural projects.
The OIC Gambia Secretariat which is newly established and constituted is mandated by the office of the president to mobilize resources and embark on key infrastructural projects ahead of the summit.
The CEO continues to state that his secretariat has identify five key priority infrastructural projects including the construction of a 100 kilometers road with a dual carriage, construction of sixty royal and presidential villas for heads of states, construction of a four hundred bedroom five-star hotel, construction of a VIP Lounge at the airport, procurement of vehicles for visiting heads of states and delegates as well as the provision of water and electricity infrastructure within the OIC residence areas among other projects.
He noted that out of the projected budget, $80 million is earmarked for the construction of the hotel, $100 million for construction of access roads, $15 million for the construction of the airport lounge plus $13 million for the provision of electricity and water, adding that his office is doing everything possible to garner the funds needed for the successful hosting of the summit in Banjul.
“The Secretariat has written to seventeen member states for support including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria, Gabon, Senegal, Tunisia, Malaysia, Brunei and Oman and out of this the secretariat has visited ten countries and consultations are ongoing to have a successful summit,” Sanneh disclosed.
He said a nationwide sensitization is also in the pipeline to reach out to the Gambian peoples as the nation prepares to host such a very important gathering for Muslim leaders.
CORRECTION: In the original publication of this article, The Times referred to the CEO of the IOC Secretariat in The Gambia, Mr. Lamin J.K. Sanneh as Mr. Lamin F. Ceesay. We would extend our apology to Mr. Sanneh for the error and to our esteemed and loyal readers. We would also thank Mr. Essa Bokarr Sey, the PRO of the IOC Secretariat in The Gambia, for bring the error to our attention.