Delivering the launching statement on behalf of President Jammeh, the vice president noted that the government has been working tirelessly to create a Web-Portal that would serve as a window through which people everywhere can access information virtually about everything happening within our borders that require greater public awareness, understanding and appreciation. He then hailed the assistance of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in the process.
“As many of you would recall, a few years ago, the Government of The Gambia, with the active collaboration of all the stakeholders, formulated a National Policy on Information and Communication Infrastructure, otherwise called NICI. Through this policy, an expressed intention has been declared by government to harness the full advantages and resourcefulness of ICTs so as to enable us to achieve accelerated growth and development in line with the objectives of Vision 2020,” she said.
According to her, information constitutes true power that can shape ideas, minds and perceptions, more so as the country continues to move towards achieving the Vision 2020 development blueprint.
She further said the decision by government to create a web-portal is borne out of its desire to provide a one-stop powerhouse that would not only provide relevant and timely information about the programmes of the government, but also clarify misconceptions and thwart the malicious intentions of people and organization that create rumours from non-existent and unreliable sources. She said in most instances, such elements succeed in making others mistake the rumours they spread for the facts of issues and matters.
Speaking further, Vice President Njie Saidy warned all those in the bad habit of spreading falsehood about the government and their programmes, saying that with the web-portal now in place, the door for rumour-mongering has been shut and those people are now left in the cold.
She described the web portal as presenting all the opportunity to interact even more closely and transparently with all the programmes of the government, adding that it is also an opportunity to be truly updated about the business and investment opportunities that exist in The Gambia.
She also said that the web-portal is a fore-runner to the e-Government strategy that is being rigorously pursued by the government as a means to ensuring that in the not-too-distant future all vital services in The Gambia that the public would demand are provided online. “In short, ICT-based and online services would not just be limited to the biometric identity system, and the IFMIS to name but a few, which are examples of initiatives launched by the government to deliver public service.”
She finally urged all the ministries to ensure that the information provided on their respective sites is regularly updated and is well harmonized with those from sister agencies. He noted that the Web-Portal is an important platform for dialogue and networking. She also warned against cyber crimes. “We must be prepared to effectively deal with cyber threats that can render the web-portal insecure and untenable. I am aware of the comfort of chips to help in this fight, we should not become complacent,” he concluded.
Also speaking at the occasion, Mr. Basiru D. Jahumpa, a representative of the UNDP noted that his organization recognizes the pivotal role e-Governance and ICT can play in the attainment of the MDG-based PRSP II. As a key trend and emerging issue affecting public sector management, he said e-Government aims to improve efficiency in internal government operations and public service delivery and to provide for open and transparent processes as well as greater citizen participation and involvement.
Mr. Jahumpa also noted that a priority area for intervention identified in the national e-Governance is the design and development of the government web-portal for the first time in The Gambia.
He said the UNDP support will have main outputs, to include (1) a fully networked Ministry of Information that will provide efficient data and information sharing within and outside the ministry; (2) an e-Government data centre and web portal unit which is able to host other ministries’ websites; and (3) a team of skilled network personnel to assist/advise other government agencies in their IT needs related to the e-Government strategy.
“With this level of support, we are confident the government web-portal will revitalize the public sector and thus make it more proactive, efficient, and transparent and service oriented. The main underlying principle of e-government is to bring government closer to people and businesses through the use of ICT in delivery of services and provision of information.” Mr. Jahumpa.
He also highlighted the various areas where the UNDP have intervened in the government’s e-Government strategy drive.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Mam Ndegene Secka
Quelle/Source: TODAY Newspaper, 26.05.2010
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