By Ndey Sowe
Baboucarr Ousmaila Joof, the Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration, and Employment, on Tuesday, 29 October 2024 presided over the fourth inauguration of the Board of Directors of the Gambia Standard’s Bureau at the Ministry’s Conference room in Banjul.
The inauguration marks a significant step in enhancing the standards and quality of products and services in The Gambia. The new board members bring a wealth of experience and expertise that will contribute to the ministry’s mission of promoting fair trade and consumer protection.
Minister Joof recalled that about fourteen (14) years ago, the Parliament enacted The Gambia Standards Bureau Act, 2010 which established the Bureau.
“The first Board of Directors was put in place shortly afterward in fulfillment of Section 7 Subsection 1 of the Act on the Establishment and Composition of the Board of Directors. However, it was not until the fourth quarter of 2011 that actual operations began with the appointment of its first Director General on 30th October 2011,” he explained.
He added that the TGSB Act clearly stipulates the composition of the Board as follows:
1. The chairperson, appointed by the President;
2. the Director General of the Bureau;
3. the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance or his or her designated representative;
4. the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry responsible for trade or his or her designated representative;
5. and a representative of the:
(i) Gambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(ii) Consumer Association
(iii) and, the University of The Gambia or a relevant research institute.
Meanwhile, on behalf of President Mr. Adama Barrow, he congratulated the board for being chosen among several Gambians to serve, noting that he has no iota of doubt that they would serve with distinction as they have always done.
“The authority of the Board we are about to inaugurate took effect on 1st August 2024 when His Excellency President Barrow appointed a new Chairman of the Board in the person of Mr. Ernest Reuben Aubee. It’s a befitting appointment of a personality carefully chosen considering the technicality and scope of work that the Bureau discharges. Mr. Aubee has a wealth of experience both nationally and internationally in diverse fields including but not limited to agriculture and rural development, project management, policy analysis, and formulation, particularly on poverty alleviation, and resource mobilization just to highlight a few,” he revealed.
He outlined that Mr Aubee served the Gambia Government, UN Agencies, and NGOs before joining the ECOWAS Commission as the Principal Program Officer and Head of the Directorate of Agriculture and Rural Development, a position he held until his retirement.
He went further: “It is worth noting that the Government of The Gambia recognized his selfless service and contribution to national development by awarding him the National Order of the Republic of the Gambia (MRG) in 2009.”
Ernest Aubee, Chairman Board of Directors Gambia Standard’s Bureau applauded the President for appointing them to what he describes as an important position of responsibility. “We are equally grateful to the Minister of Trade for finding us worthy to serve in such a position in a very important arm of his ministry,” Mr Aubee said.
Moreover, Mr Aubee assured the minister and The Government that the board will perform its duties with honesty, diligence, fairness, and hard work at all times, adding the appointment of the new board comes at a time when various developments are taking place at the national, regional and global trade systems.
He further stated: “The issues of standard development and enforcement are crucial in the transformation of The Gambian economy as expressed in The Gambia’s new recovery focus national development plan 2023 to 2027.
According to the Minister of Trade, the assignments placed on the new members of the Board are defined under Section 8 of the Act which highlights the following: (a) Determine the overall policy and strategy of the Bureau, with particular regard to the financial, operational, organizational and administrative programs and to ensure the implementation of the policy; (b) control the management, property, business, and funds of the Bureau and other matters relating to the Bureau; (c) review and approve the annual work programme and budget of the Bureau; (d) support the Bureau in its resource mobilization strategy.
