News Guide Africa

Tag: The Gambia

  • Ghana’s DVLA Hosts Gambian Delegation to Bolster Sub-Regional Transport Governance ​

    Ghana’s DVLA Hosts Gambian Delegation to Bolster Sub-Regional Transport Governance ​

    In a significant move toward West African institutional collaboration, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) of Ghana recently hosted a high-level delegation from The Gambia’s Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure.

     

    ​The visit, which concluded last Wednesday, was designed as an intensive understudy tour. The Gambian government is currently seeking to reform its vehicle registration and licensing framework by transitioning these responsibilities from the Gambia Police Force to a dedicated, autonomous authority modeled directly after Ghana’s DVLA.

    ​Learning from a Regional Leader

    ​The delegation’s tour focused on the technical and structural pillars that have established the DVLA as a benchmark for excellence in the sub-region. Key areas of the understudy included:

     

    ​Institutional Autonomy: A deep dive into the legislative framework (Act 569) that allows the DVLA to operate as a semi-autonomous, efficient body.

     

    ​Digital Transformation: The delegation reviewed Ghana’s smart-card driving licenses, the “Drive from Port” (DP) initiative, and the authority’s fully digitized vehicle registration systems.

     

    ​Service Excellence: Officials visited “Prestige” and “Mobile Service” centers, which have significantly reduced wait times and improved the user experience for Ghanaian citizens.

     

    ​Security Integration: The tour highlighted how the DVLA database integrates with the National Identification Authority (NIA) and national security systems to combat vehicle-related crime.

     

    ​A Vision for 2026

     

    ​Julius Neequaye Kotey, Chief Executive of the DVLA, reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to regional knowledge-sharing while maintaining a focus on domestic innovation.

     

    ​Mr. Kotey highlighted the DVLA’s 2026 reform agenda, which includes:

    ​The rollout of new smart number plates.

     

    ​The introduction of a demerit point system for traffic violations.

    ​Strengthened cybersecurity measures to protect citizen data.

     

    ​“We remain firmly on track to deliver world-class services to all road users in Ghana,” Mr. Kotey stated, expressing gratitude to the Ministry of Transport and the Ghanaian public for their support in positioning the DVLA as a model of institutional excellence in West Africa.

    ​

  • Gambian appointed as referee for Ghana vs South Africa U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifier

    Gambian appointed as referee for Ghana vs South Africa U-20 Women’s World Cup Qualifier

    Ngum Fatou from The Gambia will take charge of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup second-leg qualifier between South Africa and Ghana.

     

    She will be assisted by fellow GambiansAbbie Ceesay (Assistant I),Jainaba Manneh (Assistant II), andIsatou Touray (Fourth Referee).

     

    The match’sMatch Commissioner will be Cindy Barbara Dludlu from Eswatini, while Constance Catherine Wejuli Adipofrom Uganda will serve as Referee Assessor.

     

    The second-leg qualifier is scheduled for 3 PM on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, South Africa.

     

    Ghana enters the fixture holding a2-2 drawfrom the first leg, which was played at theAccra Sports Stadium on Sunday, February 8, 2026.

  • President Adama BARROW Inaugurates Infrastructure Built By The ECOWAS Electricity Access Project In Banjul, The Gambia

    President Adama BARROW Inaugurates Infrastructure Built By The ECOWAS Electricity Access Project In Banjul, The Gambia

    The Gambian Ministry of Petroleum, Energy and Mines in collaboration with the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC), has begun the series of inauguration of electricity infrastructures completed in five locations of the country as part of the implementation of ECOWAS Regional Electricity Access Project (ECOWAS-REAP).

     

     

    The inaugurations which began on February 7, 2026, at Njongon, will be held from February 7 – 15, 2026 at different locations within The Gambia, during which other electricity access projects will also be inaugurated.

     

    Declaring the open ceremony, H.E Adama BARROW, President of the Gambia, described the electricity access project as an “unprecedented achievement in The Gambia”, noting that through sustained efforts and partnerships of donors, the project will bring relief to the people and directly transform the daily lives of rural families in the country.

    HE further disclosed that through ECOWAS-REAP, The Gambia’s electrification access rate “has increased from 73% to 90%, marking a transformative moment in the nation’s development journey” enabling 52,000 new households connect to power.

     

  • ECOWAS Commission President meets delegation from  The Gambia’s Ministry of Justice on Transitional Justice implementation

    ECOWAS Commission President meets delegation from  The Gambia’s Ministry of Justice on Transitional Justice implementation

    The President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu TOURAY, has received a delegation from The Gambia’s Ministry of Justice to discuss ongoing efforts and planned activities for the implementation of Transitional Justice in the country. The three-member delegation comprised Ms. Ide PERSSON, Special Adviser to The Gambia’s Minister of Justice on Transitional Justice; Mr. Abdoulie HYDARA, Deputy High Commissioner and Head of Chancery at The Gambia High Commission in Nigeria; and Mr. Abdurrahman Maitama YUSUF, Director of Public Prosecutions of The Gambia.

     

    Speaking during the meeting, Ms. PERSSON highlighted that the purpose of the visit was to seek the support and collaboration of the ECOWAS Commission towards ensuring an efficient, effective, and successful implementation of Transitional Justice in The Gambia. In his remarks, H.E. Dr. TOURAY assured the Gambian delegation of ECOWAS’ continued commitment and support for the timely and successful implementation of the Transitional Justice process and the recommendations of the Special Tribunal in The Gambia.