HELD AT THE STATE HOUSE, BANJUL
DATE: 29th November 2024
Your Excellency, the Vice President,
Honourable Cabinet Ministers,
Distinguished Guests,
Senior Public Officials,
Members of the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
We have assembled, once again, to witness another significant event in our nation’s journey towards building a more efficient, accountable, and results-oriented government. With this in mind, this swearing-in ceremony is not just a formal event or a routine requirement for us to simply attend and disperse. Instead, it is a symbolic demonstration of my government’s commitment to our ongoing reforms and continual modernisation and improvement of our governance system, as we address the ever-evolving needs of our people.
My recent decisions, leading to these new cabinet appointments and structural reforms in the civil service, reflect this commitment. The decisions are informed by deep insights into our government machinery and a keen vision to strengthen the foundations of our governance structure. The goal is to streamline decision-making processes and to ensure effective policy implementation in the best interest of the nation and for the benefit of all Gambians.
I thank the appointees who have just been officially sworn into office for accepting the offer to serve the country in their new positions.
On behalf of Cabinet, I welcome all of them, beginning with Mr. Mod K. Ceesay, who now takes on the dual role of Chief of Staff and Minister at the Presidency. This newly created position, which removes the Chief of Staff from the civil service framework, is designed to ensure that the Office of the President operates with precision and efficiency.
Henceforth, the Chief of Staff will play a crucial role as my Chief Adviser and Coordinator of Presidential priorities. The arrangement is to guarantee that decisions taken at the level of the Executive are effectively implemented across all Ministries and Departments. Separating these functions from the civil service will reinforce the neutrality and professionalism of the public service, while creating a focused and functional politically aligned advisory entity within the Presidency. Honourable Ceesay, congratulations on your new appointment!
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I also heartily congratulate the new Ministers, Dr. Habibatou Drammeh, Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, and Mr. Lamin Jabbi, Minister of Communication and Digital Economy. Both of them bring along valuable expertise and experience to their roles. Their appointments reflect my government’s recognition of the critical importance of education and digital transformation in shaping the future of our nation.
In addition, I take great pride in announcing the merger of the roles of Secretary to Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service. This decision is grounded in the principles of clarity, efficiency, and accountability. Consolidating the two functions under a single officeholder, aligns with current good practice within Commonwealth countries. The strategy is to eliminate duplication of responsibilities or conflicting lines of authority.
Streamlining the functions of Secretary to Cabinet and Head of Civil Service will enable smoother transition from policy development at Cabinet level to policy implementation across the Ministries. Mr. Alieu Njie assumes this vital responsibility. I am confident in his ability to lead this critical office with the professionalism, dedication, and integrity required and, therefore, congratulate him warmly.
It is heartening to observe that our reforms are selectively drawing on international best practices, while addressing the specific requirements of the people and the unique circumstances of our governance model.
Ladies and gentlemen, the ongoing public service reforms and these recent appointments are also a wakeup call for every public servant. We must rise to the expectations of the people and serve them with diligence and honour.
As a result, I urge the newly appointed officials to bring new blood, relevant innovative ideas, and integrity to their positions. Like everyone else, serve with distinction, knowing that your work will impact the lives of millions of Gambians. I assure all my fellow citizens that these developments are part of our broader agenda to create a government that is transparent, efficient, and accountable. As we move forward, I ask for your continued support and constructive engagement.
May these appointments and reforms serve to solidify the foundation for a brighter and more prosperous future for The Gambia. So far, the evidence on our performance is clear; our record and the Gambian landscape speak for my government. Working together, however, we can surpass public expectations and do much better to achieve the development and progress every Gambian deserves. Let us take up the challenge.
May Allah bless The Gambia forever.
I thank you all for your attention.
