By Lamin B. Darboe
About sixty ICT officers from Government institutions within Greater Banjul Area concluded two-day training on the biometric attendance register on Wednesday, March 12th. Similar training will be conducted for the ICT officers in other regions in the weeks ahead.
The ICT officers across Government institutions are the controllers of the biometric clock-in and-out device within their various offices. They are being trained on the functionality, usage and administration of the system.
Speaking at Bakadaji Hotel, Kololi, during the opening of the training, the minister of Public Service, Administrative Reforms Policy Coordination and Delivery, Hon. Baboucarr Bouy said the training marked a significant step in his ministry’s journey to modernise and improve efficiency in The Gambia’s civil service.
He reaffirmed Government’s commitment to improving public service delivery through, among other things, efficient workforce management. “When employees report to work on time and remain accountable for the hours they spent in the office, it leads to better service delivery to the citizens,” he posited.
According to Hon. Bouy, for many years, managing attendance and ensuring accountability in government offices has been a big challenge. He observed that the manual system of recording attendance often led to inefficiencies, delays, and at times inaccuracies in tracking working hours.
“The biometric clock-in and-out devices will help us ensure that civil servants’ working hours are recorded accurately and transparently,” he enthused. He added that with the device in place, issues of absenteeism, ghost workers, and time theft will be significantly reduced.
Further on the significance of the system, Minister Bouy noted that it will promote discipline and productivity within the workforce and help in decision-making, as it provides real-time data that can be used to assess attendance trends and make informed policy decisions.
“As we move towards an era of technology-driven governance,” he went on, “we must embrace innovations that enhance their ability to serve the public efficiently.
He therefore commended his Ministry’s ICT team for leading the initiative and ensuring that all government offices are equipped with the knowledge of the operations of the biometric attendance registration devices.
