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| Madina Sancha VISACA AGM delegates |
Mr. Conteh was speaking at
Madina Sancha VISACA annual general meeting, Kiang East in Lower River Region over
the weekend.
According to him, the
ownership of VISACA belongs to the village and the village as an entity adding
that savings and deposits can sustain any VISACA in the country.
Mr. Conteh stated that
VISACA Apex the umbrella body of VISACA’s in the country is pleased to be
associated with the activities that Madina Sancha VISACA is doing that savings,
deposits, giving fertilizer to farmers on loans amongst other activities.
He further commended the
management of Madina Sancha VISACA for holding the annual general meeting
adding that holding an annual general meeting is very important it’s based on
the credibility of every organisation; while urging the management committee
and the general membership to continue guiding the constitution and regulations
that governs VISACA’s in the country.
On membership of VISACA’s,
Mr. Conteh used the AGM to said that membership is limited to individuals and
group saying that group and Kafoo’s membership is limited to groups that are
actively involved in development work in the village.
“Each membership
application must be accompanied by a valid identification documents”
Reading the financial
statement of the year, Mr. Conteh gave the VISACA thumb-up saying that the
VISACA made a profit of D132, 711.00 from January to December 2013.
Cash in hand, he said is
D166, 143, income from grants that is Rural Finance Project- the International
Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and government of The Gambia (GoTG)
finance project and Social Development Fund (SDF) stood at D52, 981.
Membership fees D18,
835.00, Expenses interest paid on term deposit D8, 733.00, and interest paid on
external loans D63, 000.00. The VISACA gained D8,200.00 on mobile charging.
On savings, Mr. Conteh
revealed that members are ‘not doing good savings’ with the VISACA disclosing
that active deposit is fourty-eight (48)
of which ten (10) are females, eight (8) non-residents, four (4) are
Kafoos and no male made savings in the year 2013.
He then expressed
disappointment that members are not making saving but was quick to attribute to
Gambians saying that ‘in The Gambia we don’t’ have saving habits.”
For her part, Madina
Sancha VISACA President, Aji Sohna Ceesay spoke at length on the importance of
AGM saying that the village through the AGM shall define the rules and
procedures for running the VISACA.
According to her, it’s at
the AGM that villagers shall select the cashiers and management committee to
run the affairs, therefore, holding AGM is very important, she told congress
delegates.
On membership, Madam
Ceesay said that they have 834 of which 302 are females, 446 outsiders, 25
Kafoo and 507 are males.
She revealed that the VISACA
is for the village (Madina Sancha) and the surrounding villages and expressed
her profound gratitude with the turn-out of the general membership.
“Only members with savings
and deposit can borrow from the VISACA and no loan to non-VISACA members”
Speaking earlier, Alkalo Mbye
Ceesay said the ownership and governance of any VISACA lies with the villagers
while urging villagers to take ownership of the VISACA.
Immam, Biram Touray, Mrs.
Fatou Jobe committee, Mrs. Fatoumatta Jallow from Njolefen village all spoke at
the AGM and was chaired by Maser Abdou Gassama.
At the end of the AGM,
members unanimously agreed to increase saving each month D50.00.
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