Africa-Press – Gambia. Interior Minister Abdoulie Sanyang has dismissed allegations that the government’s decision to issue national identity cards to Gambians living abroad is politically motivated or linked to upcoming elections.
Speaking to The Fatu Network, Minister Sanyang said the initiative is part of the government’s duty to ensure that all citizens—regardless of their location—can access essential national documents.
“We will continue to do it again and again, wherever Gambians are and they need it. It is the responsibility of the state to do the needful, to make sure that citizens have access to documentation,” he stated.
The minister stated that the ongoing overseas ID issuance has no connection to elections, emphasizing that its sole purpose is to assist Gambians who are unable to travel home to obtain their documents.
“If you have an ID card that does not allow you to vote, you must look for a voter card. You don’t need an ID card to have a voter card. The documents that can give you an ID card are the same documents that can give you a voter’s card, so why would you spend money to acquire a voter’s card when you can have it for free?” he said.
Minister Sanyang further recalled the government’s previous overseas passport missions in Spain and Italy, which were well received by Gambians abroad.
“When we sent our team to Spain and Italy for Passports, everybody was clapping for us. A passport is our national document. We make sure that our Gambians who are abroad and cannot have access back home are provided with those facilities for them to have their documents to do their daily transactions. That is why governments spend lots of money at a loss,” he said.
He added that many Gambians abroad require national ID cards rather than passports, noting that similar initiatives are common in other countries. “What is wrong with us issuing them those documents?” he asked.
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