The Gambia Immigration Department has dismissed reports that it has lost access to national identity card records, insisting that the servers used under the former SEMLEX contract remain in the country and that the data is still accessible.
In a press release, the department said the reports circulating on some media platforms arose from a misunderstanding of comments made by a staff member during court proceedings. The remarks concerned questions about the verification of national identity cards, it said.
The department maintained that it continues to provide access to identity verification services and complies with the Access to Information Act of 2021.
It said it had responded to numerous requests from both national and international bodies seeking to verify Gambian identity documents. These include biometric and machine-readable passports.
The department cautioned against circulating claims that have not been properly verified, warning that inaccurate information could create unnecessary public concern and weaken confidence in the management and protection of sensitive identity records.
“The Gambia Immigration Department remains committed to safeguarding the legal identity of Gambians and foreign nationals within its mandate and protecting the integrity of national identity records,” the statement said.
It added that it would continue to discharge its responsibilities in line with the applicable laws, government policies and its institutional mandate.
The department’s statement comes amid public discussion over access to national identity data and the handling of records associated with the SEMLEX contract. While rejecting claims that access has been lost, the department urged the public and media organisations to rely on accurate, verifiable information when reporting on the matter.
