By: Lamin B. Darboe
Communication Officer, MoPS
The Minister of Public Service has explained that his Ministry’s unannounced visit to government institutions is not based on a staff witch-hunt, but for his ministry’s senior management to see how the Biometric Time Attendance machine in the institutions operates.
Honorable Baboucarr Bouy made this remark on Monday, August 11, 2025, as he led a team of his senior management to an unannounced visit to the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services to know the condition of the Biometric Time Attendance machine installed at the said Ministry.
Minister Bouy informed that their visit was part of the unannounced visit his ministry is undertaking to the government institutions to get first-hand information to observe whether the Biometric Time Attendance machine is functioning, or not.
“Our visit is not for a witch-hunt or trying to look for fault against civil servants, but to discuss with the hierarchy within the institutions as to how they are managing the operation of the machine,” Minister Bouy emphasized.
According to him, the system will encourage punctuality at workplaces, while urging the senior management of the Ministry of Information to regularly check the Biometric Time Attendance signature print-out to know whether their staff arrive at work on time or leave the workplace at the right time, or not.
He disclosed that shortly, the system will be linked to the payroll, where the salary will be deducted depending on the days.
Permanent Secretaries, Ministry of Public Service and Personnel Management Office (PMO), Pateh Jah and Lamin F. Jawara all spoke at length about the significance of the machine.
Shortly after receiving the Minister and his team, the Permanent Secretary, Kodou L Jabang of the Ministry of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, described the visit as timely and necessary.
“We commend the good work that you and your Ministry render to government institutions. You are not only monitoring us, but you also physically visit various sectors to know what they are doing. Here we are, a committed Ministry. We are concerned about our staff’s Clock-in and out signing system,” said PS Jabang.
DPS Administration and Finance at the said Ministry, Naomi Williams and Mr. Katim Touray, an adviser to the Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting, assured of their Ministry’s compliance with the use of the Biometric Time Attendance system within their Ministry.
