The annual border visit is an initiative of the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia under leadership of Her Excellency Varbah Gayflour and the ECOWAS Ambassadors Solidarity Forum in The Gambia with a view to working closely with Gambian authorities to strengthen existing protocols and foster peace within the region.
The high-powered delegation includes the chairperson of the ECOWAS Ambassadors Solidarity Forum and High Commissioner of Sierra Leone Lucretia M. Shereef, ECOWAS Representative to Gambia Varbah Gayflour, Nigerian High Commissioner to Gambia Mohammed Manu and Senegalese Ambassador Bassirou Sene.
Speaking at the Sabi Border Post, the chairperson of the ECOWAS Ambassadors Solidarity Forum Lucretia M. Shereef expressed concerns on human trafficking involving West African citizens, particularly children.
“It is the Sierra Leone children they are using as sex slaves. Some of them bring them for onward transmission to Arab countries; they go take their parts and give it to the rich ones and they continue to die.”
She expressed gratitude to the Gambian authorities for reducing the resident permit fee to D700 and applauded the relations between Banjul and Freetown.
The ECOWAS Representative to The Gambia Varba Gayflour also raised similar concerns about human trafficking that operates in borders within the sub-region.
She narrated a case study of a Liberian lady trafficked to The Gambia with false promises before she was rescued.
She commended the travelling ambassadors for joining the trip despite their busy schedules, adding that it shows their commitment to the good cause.
On behalf of the ECOWAS Commission President Omar Touray, she thanked and applauded the border security officers for their steadfastness and encouraged them to do more.
For his part, the Nigerian High Commissioner to the Gambia reiterated the importance of the ECOWAS protocol of free movement of people, goods and services. He reminded the border officials of their importance in implementing the protocol.
He also highlighted the need for collaboration on the fight against human trafficking and other illegal activities.
The Senegalese ambassador to The Gambia, Bassirou Sene applauded the relationship between Banjul and Dakar. Ambassador Sene said, “This is a physical border but in our minds and heart we are one. We are speaking the same language, we are eating the same food, we are wearing the same clothes; we are going to the same mosques and churches.”
The Commissioner of Immigration in Upper River Region, Ebou Correa, thanked the ECOWAS Ambassadors Solidarity Forum in The Gambia for providing equipment to various border posts in the country, adding that they have been of great added value to their work.
