The Gambia Government through the ministry of Justice and Attorney General has hired 20 drafters for the National Security and Security Sector Reform Strategy.

The National Security Strategy aims at directing the implementation of the security Sector Policy and Security Sector Reform Strategy to help in implementing the findings and recommendations of the Security Sector Assessment Report.

A ceremony held at State House in Banjul brought together a cross-section of top security officials across all the security forces in the country

Speaking at the ceremony, minister of Justice and Attorney General, Abubacarr Tambadou, said Security Sector Reform and Strategies are essential in national development, adding all the activities in the country will not count much if the sustainable development goals in security sector are not attained.

“This is the foundation upon which the Gambia’s future is going to be built and government is aware of this. We recognized that there have been challenges in the past two years,” he said.

Mr. Tambadou, who doubled as the chairperson for the National Security Steering Committee said: “I understand that you were chosen based on your skills, experience and expertise and I hope you will meet our expectation fully. You (drafters) have a very important task as you are assigned to produce a quality work in short time.”

He said the government will provide all the necessary support to the drafters to ensure the success of the security reform process, adding the drafters’ work together with the action plan that would guide the reform process in the security sector is fundamental    

He urged the drafters to be concise, concreted and conclusive in order to achieve the sustainable development goals the country is yearning for.

For his part, Ahmed Mai Fatty, special adviser to the president on governance and policy said the National Security Strategy aimed at implementing the National Security Policy also guide, organize and harmonize the nation’s security policies and efforts to maintain the survival of the country.

“The security sector reform strategy will be developed to address gaps and malfunctions, the finding and recommendations identified during the security sector assessment,” Mr. Fatty said.

 Reporting by Adama Makasuba