On 10 May 2024, leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints attended the launching ceremony for the Fatoumatta Bah Barrow Foundation (FaBB) in Banjul, The Gambia. Fatoumatta Bah Barrow is the First Lady the Republic of The Gambia. During the ceremony, the Church made a donation to the First Lady’s foundation.
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Representing the Church was Elder Tonga J. Sai, an Area Seventy in the Africa West Area. He was joined by Samuel Owusu Amako, president of the Banjul branch of the Church, and James Owusu Ansah, the Africa West Area Communication Director.
Joining the First Lady at the launch ceremony was the President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow, and other dignitaries from throughout Gambia and West Africa. The event was held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Centre in Kololi, The Gambia.
The Fatoumatta Bah Barrow Foundation is an initiative set up by the First Lady to provide assistance to individuals and communities in the Gambia through funding of humanitarian services. The FaBB intends to use donated funds to focus on health, education and social economic sectors as well as empowerment of women and the less privileged.
The Church of Jesus Christ has collaborated with the First Lady to assist the people of The Gambia in the past by supporting food initiatives, donating equipment and supplies to hospitals, and supporting disaster relief efforts throughout the country.
On 18 August 2023, Elder S. Gifford Nielsen, a General Authority Seventy and President of the Africa West Area of the Church, joined Barrow in donation ceremonies to celebrate the Church’s donation of 18 boreholes to villages throughout The Gambia. They held ribbon cutting ceremonies in the villages of Bonsa, Giboro Gidda and Kubariko.
The First Lady was also invited to visit Church headquarters in Salt Lake City by Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles following his journey to The Gambia in February 2022. It was the first time an Apostle of the Church had visited the West African country. During her visit, Barrow met with the First Presidency, Elder Christofferson, and many organizational leaders.
During the launch ceremony, the First Lady thanked the Church for their ongoing support in The Gambia. She asked Elder Sai to make sure that Elder Nielsen and President Russell M. Nelson were aware of her gratitude.
“I know that President Nelson is turning 100 years old this year. I am turning 50, so I am halfway there,” she noted.
The Republic of the The Gambia was dedicated for missionary work on 24 February 2022 by Elder Christofferson. Four months later, the first branch of the Church was established in Banjul with 14 members. The branch continues to thrive almost two years later with over 100 members.