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Director, Department of Information Services (DOIS) reminded Government Information Officers that they are posted to various ministries and Government departments to serve as media focal persons.
Madam Aisha Davies was speaking on Monday during the official opening ceremony of a five-day training workshop for Government Information Officers.
The synergy which is currently underway at Fandema Multimedia Center in Manjai-Kunda is organized by the Department of Information Services in collaboration with ESTRA Consulting Firm and Supplies.
According to Madam Davies, the main purpose of the training is for Information Officers to promote Government’s development agendas by providing and communicating information in a strategic and effective way that engages and galvanizes citizens for national development.
She highlighted that Government’s ability to deliver optimally transparent, fundamental, information, communication and interaction at all levels is key to The Gambia’s future success.
“Government information and communication function is essential lifeblood and a strategic element in public service delivery. It is against this backdrop that in 2019 and 2020 Information Officers were appointed and posted to all Government ministries,” she said.
She explained that the role of Information Officers is significant as they are required to transmit information about their institution’s activities to the citizenry through various channels of communication.
Allowing Information Officers to do their work she continues, will contribute to public understanding of government policies and raise awareness on its activities, adding that they are also required to monitor media coverage of public affairs, advise ministers and Permanent Secretaries, manage media relations” among others.
She finally thanked ESTRA Consulting and Training Firm for taking up the challenges to conduct the training while also called on Information Officers to take the training seriously.
For his part, ESTRA Training Firm Consultant, Sulayman M. Trawally said as Information Officers, they are serving as inter-face between their various ministries and public.
“Am grateful to DOIS because since I started conducting the training, this is the first time a high profile caliber like Minister Ebrima Sillah to officially preside over my trainings,” Trawally revealed.
By Lamin B. Darboe
Information Officer, MoBSE