By Sering Mass Jallow
The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) on Thursday convened a high-level stakeholder engagement to validate guiding principles and professional standards for border officials as part of efforts to strengthen border security and management.
The initiative, developed under the Swiss-funded People-Centred Border Governance program, is aimed at promoting integrity among immigration officials stationed at the country’s various entry points, while strengthening professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights in border management.
The one-day validation workshop, held at Metzy Hotel in Bijilo, brought together senior security officials, representatives of the Ombudsman’s Office, civil society organisations and delegates from the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF).
Speaking at the event, Mark Lynch, Head of the DCAF Office in The Gambia, said the stakeholder engagement followed participatory mapping studies conducted across the country’s five administrative regions.
He said the studies showed that some communities had expressed frustration over instances where officials allegedly requested payment for documentation or services that are provided free of charge by law.
Communities had also raised concerns about delays in responding to complaints and other issues requiring institutional attention, he said.
“This workshop is designed to meet that challenge, with a proactive institutional and oversight response,” Lynch said.
He added that the validation of the document would help strengthen institutions responsible for oversight, accountability and the welfare of travelers at border crossing points.
Deputy Ombudsman and GID consultant Samba Bajie stressed the importance of the guiding principles and their effective implementation.
He said stakeholders had developed an evaluation and monitoring matrix to track compliance with the standards and measure progress against key indicators.
“We have developed an evaluation and monitoring matrix. This will pay particular attention to the key indicators, which we will leverage to assess the compliance rate of the guidelines,” Bajie remarked.
The guiding principles are being introduced against the backdrop of growing cross-border migration challenges in West Africa, where increased population movement has placed additional demands on border management institutions.
Stakeholders said implementation of the standards would help strengthen professional conduct within the GID, improve the efficiency of border management and reinforce the protection of The Gambia’s borders, while ensuring greater attention to the welfare and rights of people crossing the country’s borders.