On 25 August 2026, the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons [NAATIP], in its quest to prevent trafficking in persons in the Gambia, conducted a capacity-building training for the Gambia Immigration Department at the Kanifing Municipality. Recognising the key role of the Gambia Immigration Department in the fight against human trafficking and acknowledging the important role both institutions play in combating and preventing TIP. The agency organised a day-long training to strengthen the capacities of Immigration Officers in the Kanifing Municipality on TIP and the NRM.
The day began with opening prayers. Following the opening prayers, Commissioner Fatty of the Gambia Immigration Department, based at the Regional Headquarters in Kanifing Municipality, delivered welcoming remarks. He emphasised the importance of capacity-building for law enforcement officials in the fight against transnational organised crime. The Commissioner stated that enhancing officers’ skills will strengthen their ability to protect our borders, respond effectively, and combat human trafficking to achieve tangible results.
In her opening remarks, the Executive Director praised the outstanding work being done by the Gambia Immigration Department to protect our borders. She noted that the capacity-building initiative aims to improve the identification of trafficking victims and enhance the ability to detect organised crime within borders. Additionally, she emphasised that no single institution can effectively combat human trafficking; therefore, a comprehensive approach is necessary. Before concluding her opening statement, she urged participants to remain vigilant at the border to ensure that they perform their duties effectively.
The training sessions focused on key aspects of human trafficking and featured various facilitators. Mr Bojang from NAATIP led the session on the fundamental concepts of Trafficking in Persons (TIP). He provided participants with an understanding of essential definitions, forms, and key elements associated with human trafficking and equally discussed the difference between TIP and SOM.
Mr Cham, an experienced investigator from the agency, conducted a session on victim identification. He emphasised the importance of recognising the signs of trafficking and properly identifying potential victims to ensure they receive the necessary assistance and protection.
Mr Momodou Drammeh, the head of the programs department, discussed the purpose and significance of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). He explained the procedures and roles of relevant stakeholders in referring, protecting, and supporting victims of trafficking.
In conclusion, the day concluded with a question-and-answer session designed to test the participants’ understanding. The GID officials engaged in asking and answering questions. This interactive session aimed to ensure that the GID officials left the NANA conference hall equipped with new strategies to address the contemporary trends surrounding Trafficking in Persons (TIP). The day wrapped up with closing remarks from Mr Momodou Drammeh, delivered on behalf of the Executive Director, Isatou Dabo, the Head of Programs. Momodou Drammeh encouraged the participants to put into practice what they were taught to effectively address human trafficking.
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