By Awa Sowe
The Gambia Government through the Ministry of Information, in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Thursday, November 3rd wrapped up the second edition of Government-Media Dialogue on Migration, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo.
The two-day session, together representatives of government institutions, and media to discuss the main actors in the migration process, analyse public perception on migration issues, and to agree on an effective mechanism to share information and report accurately and objectively on migration.
The dialogue accorded participants the opportunity to clarify misconceptions and misinformation about migration issues, particularly on deportations, readmission and reintegration processes and protocols.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Zeffira Zanfagna, IOM’s coordinator of the ‘Strengthening Communication on Migration in The Gambia’ (SCMG) project, said the initiative was meant to enable a constructive dialogue and co-operation framework on migration, between and the media.
She said the objective of the SCMG project, funded by European Union, is to support and strengthen communication on migration in The Gambia.
She underlined the fact that discussions on migration can be complex; as such, different actors coming together and sharing their expertise can help properly manage such complex phenomenon.
Therefore, Ms Zeffira noted, the dialogue, helps in sharing key messages, discussing and sharing lessons learned and expertise on how to better manage migration and map a way forward.
The discussion, she added, will also help migrants and potential migrants to make informed migration decisions.
Participants and panelists were drawn from the Communication and Advocacy Thematic Working Group and other TWGs under the National Coordination Mechanism Migration; who deliberated on government’s programmes and interventions on migration governance; while the media personnel on the other hand, delved into the role of the media in migration governance.
Speaking at the closing ceremony on behalf of the Director of the Department of Information Services under the Ministry of Information, Mr Madiba Sillah, Principal Information Officer said the dialogue with the media shows government’s commitment to work with all stakeholders to properly manage migration and harness its potentials in national development.
He expressed gratitude to IOM and EU for continual collaboration and support to the government, and the Ministry in particular, in its implementation of migration programmes.
