“This initiative helps and will expand revenue base, improve national security, enhance service delivery, and ensure knowledge transfer and ownership,” he said, adding that the government is strengthening internal security, and modernising the national identity card management and national security infrastructure.
“The digitalisation of our national documents is in progress, and we will soon replace the concession contract for the National ID system,” he stated.
He added that a draft Gambia Immigration Department Bill (2023) to enhance border control and management has been submitted for Cabinet review. “The proposal aims to update the 1965 Immigration Act and align it with current migration governance procedures,” he said. “Modern border posts are fully operational at Amdalai, Kerr Ayib, and Giboro, and plans are afoot to build one more on the Soma-Seleti border.”
In collaboration with the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Interior is reviewing the Motor Traffic Act to introduce appropriate action against road offences, the President stated, saying: “Plans are underway to install CCTV systems along the OIC Highway and other strategic locations. These will be linked to a traffic management centre for real-time monitoring and law enforcement.”
A New Highway Patrol Unit is already in operation to enhance road safety, he added: “In addition, modern surveillance equipment worth thirty-eight million dalasis (GMD38 million), secured from the German government, has been installed in strategic locations, to reinforce crime prevention.”
He further said: “The West African Police Information System is in use to digitise paper-based police records for easier access, sharing, and utilisation.”
