Old ID cards to be soon declared invalid

"If everything goes as planned, the old National Identification Cards will soon be invalid," says the new Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Gambia Immigration Department.

Speaking to The Point in an interview at his office in Banjul recently, Assistant Superintendent of Immigration Ensa Jawara advised Gambians to get the new biometric identification cards since very soon the old version will be declared invalid. He however said the public will be adequately informed as the expiry date of the old IDs draws closer.

Commenting on the Non-Gambian ID Cards, Jawara said this was operational since September 15, 2010. He added that the new ID cards for non-Gambians are meant for only three nationals, namely Senegalese, Guinea Bissau and Ivorian nationals residing in The Gambia.

He also called on them to process their ID Cards, adding that the fee for the card is only D200. "It is against the law for an alien to stay in the country without registering with the immigration department," he said, calling on landlords and the Alkalolou (village heads) to assist the Immigration by encouraging their tenants to regularise their status.