By: Lamin B. Darboe
Information Officer, MoPS
The Minister of Public Service, Administrative Reforms, Policy Coordination and Delivery overseeing the Ministry of Lands, Regional Governments, and Religious Affairs has explained that Imams are not included in the Government pay structure, so they cannot receive a monthly salary from the government.
Hon. Baboucarr Bouy responding to an appeal from Baba Kanagi, an Islamic scholar from Jarra Sukukung during the President’s Meet the People’s Tour Meeting held last Monday at Welingaraba in Jarra East District, Lower River Region when Imam Kanagi appealed “President Barrow, ‘am here on behalf of The Gambia Supreme Islamic Council (GSIC) to appeal to your Government to allocate a monthly salary for Imams like the Alkalolu.”
According to Imam Kanagi, he wants the government to consider allocating monthly salaries for Imams thus considering the pivotal roles Imams are playing within our communities, adding that Imams do struggle financially to feed their families.
In response to his appeal, Hon. Minister Bouy explained that Imams in The Gambia are not included in The Gambia Government pay structure, for that reason, they cannot be paid with monthly salaries.
“Not that the government did not recognize the services Imams are rendering within our communities. Government under President Barrow has strongly recognized the roles of Imams in our communities, but the reality is that Imams are not captured in the Government pay structures,” Minister Bouy informed.
Local Government Minister Overseer, Hon. Bouy explained that Alkalolus are receiving monthly salaries because they are working directly with the government.
On the issue of the sustainability of projects in the Upper and Central River Regions, Minister Bouy challenged the Governors, Chiefs, and Alkalolus within the said regions to be development-oriented to sustain the project when they phase out within their various communities.
“Governors, Chiefs, and Alkalolus are the ones working with people at the grassroots level, so to see the sustainability of the projects within their communities is purely in their hands,” Minister Bouy concluded.
