The people of Moyamba Junction, which has become a gateway to the south and eastern provinces on Thursday, greeted the fast-expanding reliable Celtel network with joy and open arms. This was during the official launching of the network in the area which was performed by the Resident Minister Southern Province, Abass Collier. During the short but impressive ceremony, the minister praised Celtel for its contribution towards national development as government could not do everything. He recalled that he had been passing through Moyamba Junction since he was a small boy but was looking forward to the area becoming the commercial centre of Moyamba district. The Resident Minister also reminded the people that many other companies and businessmen came with promises but instead were only intent on making profit without putting anything back into the communities. Celtel, he noted, had been doing a lot for the people in keeping with their slogan of making life better. He also recalled that quite recently he was present at the presentation of books and learning materials worth over Le10m to Malen Junior Secondary School by Celtel, under the Build Our Nation scheme. “They are not obliged to make these inputs but just yesterday, their Chief Executive, Dr Saad Al Barrack, I am informed, made another donation of Le45m to these four schools. Celtel is a real bomba,” he stated. He expressed happiness for the paramount chief’s offer of land for Celtel to erect another mast, because he said it was always good not just to ask but to be ready to give something in return.
The resident minister also told the gathering of local leaders and Celtel staff that communication was power. “You can now talk to anywhere in the world, so please continue to support Celtel. They are paying their taxes and helping us as well. We in the southern region support them wholeheartedly.” He advised them to stay with the network that was giving them the best in terms of coverage. The resident minister before formally launching the network assured Celtel that any difficulty they encountered in their quest to empower the people, should be brought to their attention.
Responding to statements made by the paramount chief in respect of the network, Celtel’s marketing director Bernard Sisay stated that Celtel came to launch the network to make their presence felt. Mr Sisay also pointed out that Celtel had no intention of avoiding Moyamba Junction but wanted to cover the road leading to Tiama, so erected a mast near Moyamba Junction. He assured the paramount chief who had appealed for extension of coverage to Gandor, where he promised earlier, the chiefdom would offer Celtel free land to erect their mast, the marketing director promised that by the end of April they would come to assess the situation in Gandor, and by the beginning of May, would be in Shenge. He noted that the recently launched ‘Build our Nation’ was part of their corporate social responsibility. “We fully recognize that investing in the community will also enhance our own investment as our future is linked with the community’s,” he stated. Paramount Chief Joseph Ali Kongomo II welcomed Celtel to his domain and said the company had proved to be a ‘bomba’ indeed. He said he was full of joy when approached for the launching and declared that they wanted to make Moyamba one town. PC Ali Kongomo II also stressed that they were determined to make Moyamba Junction, the district headquarters and that God would bless Celtel. The district council chairman, David Woobay, also expressed similar sentiments and assured that Moyamba Junction could become the commercial centre of Moyamba district.
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