Preparations are underway for the 32nd edition of SAFRA, a French acronym for the Week of Friendship and Fraternity. This year’s event is slated for the 20th to 28th, December 2025, in Basse, Upper River Region.
SAFRA’s membership consists of the following countries in the ECOWAS sub-region: The Gambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Mali, and Mauritania.
Forty years since its formation, the sub-regional organization has brought together people from these participating countries to participate in conferences/meetings/symposia, trade fairs, sports, and cultural diversification activities.
As part of the preparatory stages, the Governor of Upper River Region, Samba Bah, on Monday, 1st December 2025, paid a courtesy call on the senior management of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture in Banjul.
The governor and team were received by Mr. Siaka Fadera and Mrs. Ida Drammeh, Deputy Permanent Secretaries for Technical and Admin.
Speaking at the brief meeting, Governor Samba Bah thanked the senior management of the Ministry for the warm welcome accorded to him and his team. He also took the opportunity to formally invite the Ministry to grace this year’s event in Basse.
On their parts, the two Deputy Permanent Secretaries reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that anything that will boost the Gambia’s tourism sector, its culture, and Arts are given the right and timely attention.
They further congratulated the Governor and team for visiting the Ministry, describing it as a step in the right direction.
By Lamin Njie
Communications Officer
Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture