By Yunus S Saliu
The Embassy of Japan joined by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Thursday and Friday handed over renovation works and solar PV installations to the Amdalai border post and Kerr Ali border post in North Bank Region (NBR) Gambia.
The handing over was done by Ambassador of Japan to The Gambia based in Japan, Arai Tatsuo.
Prior the handing over Ambassador Tatsuo, Fumiko Nagano, Chief of Mission IOM, Seedy M Touray, Director General of Gambia Immigration Department among other officials was taken on a conducted tour to inspect the renovation works done at the border posts.
The renovation works and Solar PV installations are parts of the ongoing $1,000,000 project meant for ‘enhancing capacities of The Gambia’s Local and Central Governments to manage borders and contribute to trade facilitation, community and economic development,’ sponsored by the Government and People of Japan.
Ambassador Arai Tatsuo also had a bilateral meeting with government officials, attended the closing ceremony of the first aid training for border officials and as well met the established Interagency Border Coordination Committees of Amdalai and Ker Ali Border Posts.
Commenting on the project, Ambassador Arai Tatsuo disclosed that the project will strengthen borders control management in The Gambia.
He emphasized on the importance of security saying “security and peace is very important elements for the development of the country.”
On economy prospect, he said the country needs free circulation of merchandise and this comes with challenges of smuggling and trafficking. Therefore, to control the borders well “we had worked rigorously with the government of The Gambia security and IOM,” he noted.
He however expressed delight over the works taking into consideration the inspection of works done at the checkpoint border controls.
The Ambassador further disclosed that government and people of Japan has “engaged intensively in establishing peace and security in Africa including The Gambia because for social economic development you need peace and security.”
Fumiko Nagano, Chief of Mission IOM explained that they started the implementation of the borders project funded by the Japanese government in 2018 with focus on fostering cooperation between government of The Gambia and Senegal while next step (ongoing project) started in March 2019.
She said it is a one year project focusing entirely on The Gambia Immigration Department, Gambia Border management, system capacity building and strengthening with several components.
She noted that the works have brings positive improvement to ensuring that there is 24/7 electricity supply among other things, while “we are looking into introducing of boarder management information system called Migration Information and Data Analysis System (MIDAS) installations for electronic data capturing.”
The Director General of Gambia Immigration Department, Seedy M Touray thanked the Government and People of Japan for this benevolent gesture for their intervention as a development partner.
In extension he congratulated the International Organization for Migration team for their entire commitment in the execution of the project.