The ceremony was held at the Gambia Sea Port in Banjul on Tuesday.
Seedy M. Touray, the director general of The Gambia Immigration Department, said his department has in recent years employed all mechanisms and efforts to fight irregular migration especially at sea.
DG Touray added that this “magnificent speed boat” that is being handed over is procured under a border management project entitled: "Strengthening Operational Capacities for Gambian Authorities to Manage Borders, Respond to Health Crisis and Socio-Economic Impacts of COVID-19.
Stephen Matete, from the International Organisation for Migration, said there is a need to “empower potential migrants” with the “capacity to make informed migration related decisions” and the need to work with relevant stakeholders in combatting smuggling and trafficking in persons, while protecting vulnerable migrants.
Osamu Izawa, the Japanese Ambassador in Senegal designated to The Gambia, said the project aims to strengthen maritime, border management and health emergency preparedness and response at port of entry and to address Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 on cross border traders.
Ambassador Izawa said Japan announced the new approach for peace and stability in Africa in 2019 at the occasion of TICAD7.
He added that the outcome of the project is to strengthen maritime and land border management capacities for safe and orderly flow of travelers and concretise the idea of NAPSA.
The ceremony was attended by The Gambia Immigration Department senior management, International Organisation for Migration officials, management of Gambia Port Authority and the Japanese Embassy officials.
