By: Lamin B. Darboe
Communication Officer, MoPS
The Minister of Public Service assured that the Government of The Gambia is committed to improving public service delivery which he said, cannot be achieved in the absence of efficient workforce management.
Hon. Baboucarr Bouy delivered these remarks on Tuesday March 11, 2025 during the two-day official opening of the training workshop on operation of the Biometric clock-in and out devices held at Bakadaji Hotel, Kololi.
Sixty (60) IT officers from Government institutions within Greater Banjul Area attended the training, while the rest of the IT officers in other regions will undergo similar training weeks ahead.
If the training completed, IT officers across the Government institutions will control the Biometric clock-in and out devices operation within their various sectors.
“When employees report to work on time and remain accountable for the hours they spent in the office, it leads to better service delivery to the citizens,” said Minister Bouy.
Hon. Bouy described the training as an important one on the functionality, usage and administration of the Biometric Clock-in-and-out devices.
The training he added, marked a significant step in his ministry’s journey to modernize and improve efficiency in The Gambia’s civil service.
According to Hon. Bouy, for many years, managing attendance and ensuring accountability in government offices has been a big challenge.
Adding that the manual system of recording attendance often led to inefficiencies, delays, and at times inaccuracies in tracking working hours.
“The biometric clock-in and out devices will help us ensure that civil servants’ working hours are recorded accurately and transparently,” he explained.
He said with Biometric clock-in and out devices in place, issues of absenteeism, ghost workers, and time theft will be significantly reduced.
Minister Bouy informed that the system will promote discipline and productivity within the workforce and will also help in decision-making, as it provides real-time data that can be used to assess attendance trends and make informed policy decisions.
As we move towards an era of technology-driven governance he explained, they must embrace innovations that enhance their ability to serve the public efficiently.
He therefore commended his Ministry’s ICT team for leading the initiative and ensuring that all government offices are equipped with Biometric clock-in and out devices.
