Gambia News : GAMCOT ON A KNIFE-EDGE
May 12,2008 00:00 by Anna

The future of the Gambia Cotton Company, the only cotton processing plant in this country, remains unclear. The company staff have expressed concern over the sustainability and future of the company. They say the company cannot pay the salaries of the staff since they were entirely relying on the proceeds from cotton seeds, which is now completely exhausted.

This reporter went to Gamcot, in an effort to get the opinion of management on the matter. Mr Woppa Baldeh, said to be the acting manager replacing Mr. Danso, who was said to have resigned from the company, acknowledged that the future of the company is unknown and at stake. He said that the company is facing problems and that the Cotton Growers’ Association is currently making plans to take up the responsibility of cotton processing.

Mr Danso was not there at the time, but when he was contacted by phone for his opinion on the matter, he declined to comment.

In an interview with this reporter the Secretary General of COGA, Mr. Omar Sompo Ceesay, who is also the Chairman of the Basse Area Council, said Gamcot has failed and therefore cannot sustain the cotton production in the country.