Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Ministry of Public Service, led by Honourable Baboucarr Bouy, presented critical updates on its reform agenda at the Presidential Delivery Forum, highlighting significant strides toward modernizing Gambia’s public administration. Supported by the World Bank, the Ministry’s Public Administration Modernization Project (PAMP) is driving reforms aimed at enhancing fiscal management, transparency, and citizen engagement for improved service delivery.

The PAMP initiative is focused on three primary objectives: improving public revenue expenditure management, strengthening public administration, and fostering transparency and citizen involvement in service delivery.

According to the Ministry’s Director, Sheriff Jallow, several landmark reforms have already been introduced, including pay and grading reviews, pension reforms, and recycling loan schemes, designed to attract and retain skilled personnel in the civil service.

The establishment of a new directorate under the Public Service Pension Act of 2022 is one of the recent outcomes of these initiatives.

A key focus of the reform is instilling discipline and promoting ethical conduct across government institutions. To this end, electronic time clocks have been installed in 20 Ministries, with an additional 100 units set to be deployed in various government agencies. This measure is expected to improve time management, accountability, and governance within the civil service, while also boosting public confidence in government operations.

During the forum, President Adama Barrow commended the Ministry’s achievements and urged the establishment of a monitoring team to enhance productivity and efficiency among civil servants. The Ministry has also introduced new recruitment guidelines aimed at restoring meritocracy and professionalism in personnel management. In addition, ongoing reviews of key policies, including the General Orders and the Public Service Act of 1991, underscore the Ministry’s commitment to continuous improvement.

Honourable Bouy emphasized that the reforms are ultimately aimed at enhancing the quality of public service delivery and improving the welfare of civil servants. “What matters to us is the quality of service we are delivering,” he stated.

The creation of the Ministry of Public Service was a strategic decision by the Barrow administration to restore core values and drive behavioral change within the civil service. President Barrow lauded the Ministry’s role in transforming the Public Management Office into a fully-fledged Ministry, recognizing the progress made in achieving efficient and effective governance in The Gambia.