The Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy has intensified efforts to promote the National Digital Addressing Initiative at a two-day regional Community Sensitization Forum, aimed at strengthening governance, improving public service delivery, and accelerating the adoption of digital addressing across the West Coast Region.
The forum, which began at the Brikama Area Council and continued at the Governor's Office, brought together Chiefs, Alkalolu, community elders, Councillors, community leaders and other stakeholders to enhance their understanding of the initiative and equip them to raise awareness within their communities.
Officials emphasised that the National Digital Addressing Initiative is more than the assignment of addresses to properties. It also seeks to establish a reliable national digital addressing database that will support economic growth, financial inclusion, national security, and efficient public administration.
At the opening ceremony, Yankuba Darboe, Chairman of Brikama Area Council, described digital addressing as an important tool for strengthening local governance and improving service delivery.
The initiative, he added, will assist the Council in improving property identification and records management, enhancing property rate administration and revenue mobilization, supporting effective fiscal planning, and facilitating the delivery of essential services.
He called on Councillors, community leaders and youth representatives to actively support the initiative through community participation and public awareness campaigns.
Chairman Darboe also urged communities to safeguard digital addressing infrastructure, particularly address poles and related installations, stressing that they are valuable public assets established for the benefit of all citizens.
The WARDIP Project's Environmental Safeguards Officer, Mrs. Ndey Sirreh Hydra, outlined the significance of digital addressing in promoting economic development and enhancing public safety.
She noted that a reliable addressing system would make it easier for businesses to reach customers, enable financial institutions to accurately identify and locate clients, and improve the delivery of essential services.
The Ministry's Deputy Permanent Secretary for Technical Services and for Administration and Finance, Hassan Gaye, described the forum as an important platform for stakeholder engagement, practical demonstrations, and constructive dialogue.
He emphasized the need to address public concerns, strengthen understanding of the initiative, and build collective commitment towards its sustainable implementation.
The Gambia, he added, will continue to advance its digital transformation agenda, with particular emphasis on promoting active community participation, strong stakeholder collaboration, and the protection of digital addressing infrastructure.
