By Mariatou Ngum
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the delocalised meeting of the Joint Committee on Trade, Customs and Free Movement, Social Affairs, Gender, Women Empowerment and Persons with Disabilities, Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) organised by Ecowas Parliament, the Gambia Trade Minister has stated that the ECOWAS of people can only be realized “if all of us commit ourselves to total adherence to the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence, and Establishment in the ECOWAS region.
According to Hon. Minister Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, this Protocol is a cornerstone of the ECOWAS’s vision for a unified West African region, saying, it embodies their commitment to creating a borderless community where individuals can move freely, establish businesses, and reside across member states without unnecessary restrictions.
This vision, he added, does not only promote economic growth and development but also fosters greater cultural and social integration among citizens.
The theme for the joint meeting held on Monday was: “Parliament’s Role in the Implementation of the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence, and Establishment in the ECOWAS Region”.
As the Minister responsible for Regional Integration matters, Minister Joof on behalf of the President of the Republic of The Gambia, His Excellency President Adama Barrow, extended their sincere thanks and appreciation to the President of the ECOWAS Commission Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, and the president of the ECOWAS Parliament, for their commitment to strengthening regional integration.
“The agenda for regional trade integration is important for The Gambia like the rest of the other member states, therefore it is strongly recognized in our National Development Blue Print: Recovery Focused National Development Plan 2023-2027. Given this consideration, the Government of The Gambia, through my Ministry, has consistently demonstrated commitment towards the implementation of the ECOWAS Brown Card for motor insurance, The ECOWAS Biometric Passport and identity card with the potential to improve the free movement of persons, right of residence, and establishment in The Gambia.
“My Ministry closely collaborates with the Gambia Immigration Department and the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Bureau to sensitize and raise awareness about the Free Movement Protocol throughout the country yearly,” he stated.
The successful implementation of the Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence, and Establishment, he continued, is a shared responsibility that demands active and informed participation from all sectors of their societies.
He said parliamentarians are representatives of the people and the architects of the country’s laws, they have a crucial role in this endeavor, he alerted.
According to him, by working together, they can overcome obstacles, harness the benefits of regional integration, and contribute to a more prosperous and interconnected West Africa.
