By Lamin Njie- Assistant Information Officer
Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure (MoTWI)
The Ministry of Transport, Works and Infrastructure is in the process of commissioning a data Management Information System to cover all its sub-sectors – road transport, aviation, maritime, and public buildings and facilities.
The Database system was developed by Forte Innovations, with funding provided by UNDP, and has the main purpose of guiding policy formulation, project planning, sector coordination, and day-to-day decision making in the management of the sub-sectors.
On Tuesday 29th June and Wednesday 30th June, 2021, the Ministry conducted a training at the Paradise Suites Hotel, Senegambia, for its sub-sector operatives, particularly the focal points, on how to use the data Management Information System.
Mr. Essa Drammeh, the Director of Planning of the Ministry, described the Database as relevant, considering the lack of data on the sector, especially transport statistics, which is always a major challenge in planning and project design.
Mr. Drammeh noted that the challenge is not only peculiar to the road transport sector, but also in the shipping and aviation sub-sectors. He however, highlighted that preliminary diagnostic studies have been conducted by MoTWI, to inform policy directions in this regard, in both the National Transport Policy and the National Buildings and Facilities Policy, which are under implementation.
“Your role after this training is crucial, because we are going to rely on your inputs. The planners in the Ministry will no longer be running to sub-sectors, back and forth, looking for data,” he told the participants.
He further added that the training will serve as “training of trainers” for other members of staff of the different sub-sectors, under or outside the Ministry.
Accordingly, he advised the participants to take up the training seriously, and make best use of the opportunity and the knowledge gained, as their ultimate role is crucial for the successful implementation of the Database.
Participants were drawn from The National Roads Authority, Transport Union, Gambia Civil Aviation Authority, Gambia International Airlines, Gambia Maritime Administration, Gambia Police Force, and The Gambia Ports Authority.