It is strictly one-year since Ebrima Mboob was appointed as Director General of the Gambia Immigration Department. DG Mboob took the baton of management from his predecessor Seedy M. Touray who was elevated to the rank of an Inspector General of Police (IGP) of the Gambia Police Force (GPF), thereby shifting him away from the Immigration Department to serve one other sister safety establishment within the nation.
Mboob and his workforce continued from the place his predecessor stopped and commenced to proceed reforming, revitalizing and restructuring the operations of the Gambia Immigration Department in a bid to modernize and improve the operational capacities of the Immigration, amongst others. Despite the challenges inside this brief interval, Mboob registered spectacular achievements on the nation’s Immigration Department.
Below is a look on the younger and dynamic Immigration DG’s achievements since one-year in the past.
Reflection on One-Year of Leadership below Director General Ebrima Mboob from 15th March 2024 to fifteenth March 2025
The twelve-month lengthy journey has been an ecstatic second of reforming, restructuring and revitalizing operational effectivity within the annals of GID historical past. Drawing a mirrored image on DG Mboob’s various wealth of expertise throughout his United Nations Mission, and the executive legacies he had garnered, a mirrored image on his accomplishments after one 12 months of management is crucial for the measurement of affect and celebration of his dynamic management.
The GID in response to Pillar II of the Recovery Focused National Development Plan (2023-2027) “Governance Reform”, carried out its first-ever Strategic Plan (2019 – 2024). In the hunt to attain the targets of the mentioned plan and below the SSR agenda and the RFNDP, GID has achieved the next below the management of Director General Mboob.
1. Policy and authorized framework
The Gambia Immigration Department by way of its efforts to handle essential gaps within the division’s authorized and coverage framework, enhance accountability and strengthen the management administration system of the establishment to maximise its capabilities and capacities, continues to strengthen cooperation with DCAF to attain the next targets.
» Draft and validate the GIS 2023 Bill accompanied by a place paper and a comparative evaluation of the 1965 Immigration Act submitted to the Ministry of Interior for Cabinet overview and subsequent enactment by the National Assembly.
» Develop and validate the GID Gender and Sexual Harassment coverage,
» Establish and restructure the Human Right Professional Standard Unit meant to advertise skilled conduct and improve efficient service supply.
» Through its Gambia Commission for Refugees in collaboration with UNHCR the Mboob’s management accomplished an evaluation of individuals susceptible to statelessness in The Gambia by way of revaluation of Ghana Town Residents and subsequently introduced the report back to the National Assembly Committee
» Administratively, the management of Ebrima Mboob developed analytical paperwork and templates for strategic transition administration akin to;
o The SWOT evaluation.
o Risk evaluation.
o Strength distribution plan to information employees motion.
o Staff-to-task evaluation on human and bodily functionality matrix.
o A complete coaching evaluation wants.
o Performance appraisal kind.
o Transfers and redeployment plan.
» In line with Goal 10 of the Strategic Plan (SP) (enhancement of efficiency administration framework), GID rolled out the efficiency appraisal type of its employees, for the primary time in historical past, as one in every of the factors for promotion, capability improvement, and employees placement.
» During the course of the 12 months below overview, DG Mboob rolled out promotion of 300 and eighty-six (386) officers from March to October 2024 considering appraisal reviews from supervisors. Two hundred and forty (240) junior officers had been promoted in July whereas 100 and forty-six (146) senior officers had been promoted in September. This big step from the GID administration is supposed to encourage officers in varied workplaces throughout the nation.
» In the promotion of gender parity, the GID management elevated feminine representations in choice making from 4% to 21%,
» The management additionally carried out proper placement of officers in keeping with skillset, qualification and experience in a bid to enhance performances and effectivity, futher focusing on engagements with cashiers and operation commanders to spice up income assortment and minimized income misappropriation
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2. Revenue efficiency
The issuance of some immigration paperwork akin to nationwide ID playing cards, alien playing cards, and residential permits had been affected in 2024. However, the GID has not relented in its efforts to generate income for the federal government resoundingly. From April to October 2024, GID was capable of acquire 200 and 4 million, 600 and fifty-six thousand, 200 and thirty-five Dalasis (D204,656,235) whereas through the identical interval in 2023, a complete of 100 and twenty-one million, 300 and twelve thousand, seven hundred and forty-six Dalasis (D121,312,746 was collected for the federal government, representing an increment of sixty-nine % (69%) in income efficiency.
At the top of the fiscal 12 months 2024, GID’s Revenue assortment raises from 317 million in 2023 to 420 million dalasi. This vital achievement is attributed to the methods and measures taken by the management placing correct fiduciary administration efforts in place, using employees power, strengthening income monitoring mechanisms, and enforcement of immigration actions all through the nation.
3. Strategic transitional administration
Under the management of DGI Mboob, there have been large transfers and postings primarily affecting officers who had served for the longest of time at a designation. These transfers and postings are strategically accomplished to stabilise the division, deal with operational and administrative gaps, and streamline the workforce with none antagonistic or retrogressive reactions from the officers affected. This choice was knowledgeable by the suggestions and strategic recommendation made through the M&E carried out by the Research, Policy, and Planning unit, creating room for the de-congestion and right-sizing of employees primarily based on expertise set and competence. Specifically, DG Mboob championed a Deployment of 546 officers with a five-year and above figuring out standards.
4. Strengthening bilateral cooperation and partnership
The Gambia Immigration Department had signed collection of bilateral agreements to make sure mutual cooperation with nations and worldwide organisations in specialised areas regarding capability constructing, migration administration, and operational intelligence. In the hunt to attain the strategic targets of purpose 4 of the Strategic Plan, GID below the visionary management of DG Mboob has carried out a collection of research excursions to strengthen already current bilateral ties and developed a number of idea notes for attainable cooperation with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Qatar and Russia to forge partnerships in varied areas of improvement.
Moreover, baking of the methods laid to foster bilateral cooperation within the sub-region, the Director General Immigration for the primary time hosted the Heads of Immigration (HOI) discussion board in Banjul for ECOWAS member states geared in direction of accelerating the implementation of ECOWAS National Biometric Identity Card (ENBIC) and the abolition of 90 days keep for group residents. The discussion board can also be aimed toward enhancing current synergies amongst HOI for ease of enforcement of regional devices regarding the motion of individuals. By advantage of internet hosting this historic occasion, DG Mboob assumed the Chairmanship of the HOI taking up from the Comptroller General of Nigeria Immigration Service.
5. Creation of the GID Social Media Accounts: (Facebook, Youtube and TikTok Platforms)
Most of the engagements undertaken by the GID remained unnoticed by most of the people because of the lack of a standard communication platform. Underscoring the relevance of efficient communication and significance of the Access to Information Act of The Gambia, the GID created an official Facebook platform for the dissemination of data to boost public consciousness by updating its followers of all ongoing actions and applications of the division. This initiative is in keeping with purpose 9 of the SP on consciousness creation. Comments made on this platform are continuously monitored by its system directors permitting the division to know public reactions to the division’s actions.
Additionally, suggestion bins are dispatched and affixed in doc issuing centres which are extremely visited by most of the people to collect workers, guests, and candidates’ opinions submitted anonymously on the effectiveness of providers supplied by the division and the final dealing with of its prospects.
6. Border management and administration/ inside safety
· In realms of border administration and management, 350 prohibit immigrants had been repatriated in 2024. Of this, 62 had been convicted and deported. Additionally, 1,627 Aliens had been refused entry at border entry factors. These workout routines had been meant to mitigate crimes and guarantee security for each citizen and resident of the Gambia.
· In steady efforts to curb irregular migration and safeguard the lives and livelihood of Gambian residents, 677 would-be irregular migrants had been intercepted at sea. A complete of 56 suspected smugglers had been arrested, investigated, and prosecuted for offences opposite to Section 31 of the Immigration Act of 1965.
· The GID registered about 16,473 Aliens and Non-Gambians with assortment of 95,384,300.00 revenues from residents and work permits charges.
· In the method of digitalization and E-border capability expansions, 7 official border areas are manned with MIDAS set up by way of the assist of IOM, and strong deployment of SECURIPORT border administration system on the BANJUL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. The GID has equally constructed 3 border areas (Farafenni, Amdallai and Giboro) by way of funding from Japan and coordination with GTBoard and IOM for expansions.
7. Capacity Building/coaching
GID personnel have benefited from quite a few native and abroad coaching in numerous immigration-specialized areas to shut the human useful resource capability gaps for the efficient and environment friendly discharge of their statutory mandate. Through the assist of the federal government and improvement companions, 66 native trainings had been carried out benefiting 909 immigration officers whereas 8 abroad trainings had been obtained involving 30 officers in varied areas of specialization.
» The native trainings embrace Document Security, SoP on Handling of Migrants Cases, Trafficking in Persons, MIDAS Training for Border Officials, Resource Persons coaching on Irregular migration, Technical Workshop on the Implementation of the ECOWAS Biometric I.D Card, Training on Border Surveillance and Territory Control by the Spanish Guardia Civil, Training of Trainers on Gender Main-streaming by DCAF.
» The abroad trainings embrace; Transnational Organised Crimes, Human Rights and Human Trafficking Crimes, Intensive Spanish studying course coaching in Spain, Child Protection Pilot Course, IOM Training of Trainers in Rwanda and Somalia, and West Africa Regional Training on Cybercrime in Egypt.
8. Construction and renovation of Immigration Offices
Critical infrastructural improvement was additionally superior through the interval aimed toward creating the much-needed working setting for workers efficiency. The development of Sanyang and Kalagi Immigration stations is on the completion stage. In addition, the development of Panchang and Banjul immigration stations can also be underway and regular progress has been made.
9. Revitalisation of group engagement actions
Community engagement is likely one of the key strategic operational actions undertaken by the division in guaranteeing that communities have their voices heard. Community engagement actions have been resuscitated as stipulated in purpose 9 (9) for consciousness creation and bridging the communication hole between the division and communities. The group engagement unit in collaboration with the Public Relations Office has since then been conducting radio speak exhibits on Poliso FM and Star FM to sensitize the general public on GID’s mandate, implementation and reform. Airtime has additionally been secured on MTA Gambia TV for bi-weekly TV present commencing in April 2025.
Additionally, Regional Commissioners have been holding sensitization classes with border communities on immigration capabilities and efforts to mitigate irregular migration and cross-border crimes to boost nationwide safety.
CHALLENGES
Despite the unprecedented successes registered by Director General of Immigration Ebrima Mboob and administration, there exists challenges that have an effect on the continuing reforms and strategic management route. Among these challenges embrace:
1. Inadequate funds allocations,
2. Inadequate fleet for operations,
3. Befitting construction for the Immigration Headquarters,
4. Expansion of id playing cards issuance centres throughout areas, and
5. Decentralization for passport processing centres and deployment of digital programs for the processing of paperwork.
“As we draw reflection on this one-complete year of strategic leadership, the Director General of Immigration Ebrima Mboob extends appreciation to The President of the Republic of The Gambia, H.E Adama Barrow for the trust and leadership, Minister of Interior Abdoulie Sanyang and Cabinet Members, National Assembly members, bilateral partners such the Governments of Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Spain; international organizations such as IOM, DCAF, Guardia Civil and CoP Gambia; national partners: NAATIP, GPF, NSA, GAF, Regional Commissioners and Staff of GID, and all other institutions that continue to support GID’s reform agenda.”