Mrs. Salimatou E. Touray was speaking recently during the official opening of the 2nd Quarter Permanent Secretaries’ Retreat at Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara Conference Center in Bijilo when she made the remarks.
She challenged the PSs to use their time to engage in fruitful discussions, share their insights and collaborate across Ministries, Departments and Agencies.
“In our quest for increased accountability, transparency and improved performance in the public sector, government deemed it necessary to collaborate with the World Bank Group to launch The Gambia Public Administration Modernization Project (PAMP) for Citizen-Centric Service Delivery,” she said.
She explained that the PAMP project seeks to strengthen the capacities of public institutions to provide the overall strategy and plan to contribute towards achieving the objectives of the National Development Plan (NDP.)
“The Project component on Open Government will develop and implement an Open Government Partnership National Action Plan that will allow the government to effectively prioritise and implement its transparency and citizen engagement reform agenda,”she also said.
She urged PSs to be alive to the enormous responsibilities that come with leadership, adding she is confident that despite the many and varied challenges, her office and Ministry of Public Service are determined and committed to collaborate more to improve service delivery and the well-being of the citizenry.
SG Touray informed PSs that Public Service Minister, Baboucar Bouy has already presented the recommendation from the 1st quarter PS retreat to Cabinet, adding that six issues were considered and approved.
“As we delve into the agenda of this retreat, let us also remember the importance of self-care and well-being. Our roles can be demanding and caring for each other and ourselves is essential. A healthy, motivated team is better equipped to tackle challenges and seize opportunities,” SG Touray stated.
She extended her personal commendation to PSs for their hard-work, dedication, and commitment to their collective goals, while equally urging them (PSs) to approach upcoming quarters with determination, innovation and a deep sense of purpose.
