By Mariatou Ngum
The ECOWAS National Office under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission, recently held a day’s sensitisation forum for officers of The Gambia Immigration Department (GID) on the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) and the Implementation of Free Movement Protocol. It was held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo.
The campaign’s overall objective is to raise awareness among ECOWAS community citizens, stakeholders and non-state actors in the target locations on the implementation of the ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card, to enhance their understanding of free movement and migration within ECOWAS region, as well as identify the benefits and opportunities of the ECOWAS integration agenda. It also seeks to sensitise relevant stakeholders and the public on the importance of free movement and migration in the ECOWAS sub-region.
In his opening statement, Mr. Obinna Ajugwo, Border Management and Migration Expert at the ECOWAS Commission, said that the campaign aims to advance the synergetic cooperation between the ECOWAS Commission and the Gambian Immigration Services, and to engender a common understanding of the ECOWAS legal text particularly related to ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card.
He observed that the ECOWAS space is notably the region with the most mobile population in Africa and the highest rate of intra-regional mobility, which is governed by the tenets of Free Movement Protocol.
According to him, enabling free movement of persons also poses potentials for criminal and illegal acts such as terrorism, human and child trafficking. As a result, he said the ECOWAS Commission recognises the importance of enhancing the capacities of the border officials as an integral step towards promoting effective border management and security.
MrAjugwo went on to commend the Gambian authorities for the advancements made in deployment and implementation of the ENBIC. Through concerted efforts by member states, he said that the Commission is optimistic that the ECOWAS Biometric Card will achieve its objectives of strengthening security at the border; identification of community citizens at the borders; improve data collection systems; facilitation of trade and commerce in the sub-region among others.
Mr Musa Sawaneh, the Principal Economist of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Regional Integration thanked the ECOWAS Commission for sensitising the officers of The Gambia Immigration Department as this is important in their day-to-day operation, while commending members of the GID for attending the forum.