As part of ongoing global efforts to curb the illicit trade in tobacco products, The Gambia recently hosted a Protocol Needs Assessment—a significant initiative supporting the country’s implementation of the Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products.
Led by the Ministry of Health and organized by the Convention Secretariat, in collaboration with the WHO Regional Office for Africa and the WHO Country Office for The Gambia, this assessment is part of a broader series of multisectoral workshops and country-level visits designed to raise awareness, build technical capacity, and accelerate progress toward the Protocol’s full implementation.
Building institutional readiness
Throughout the assessment, the delegation held high-level meetings and technical discussions with key national stakeholders, including:
- Dr. Yusupha Touray, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Health, and senior government officials.
- Mr. Omar Badjie, Focal Point for the WHO FCTC and Protocol for The Gambia.
- Senior leadership of the Gambia Revenue Authority, to examine enforcement mechanisms and cross-sector collaboration.
- Mr. Karl Frédérick Paul, UN Resident Coordinator for The Gambia.
- Dr. Nathan Bakyaita, WHO Representative for The Gambia.
These consultations with government departments and non-governmental stakeholders provided critical insights into implementation gaps and led to recommendations to strengthen the Protocol to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products.
Sustaining progress in tobacco control
The Gambia continues to make significant strides in tobacco control, including the adoption of comprehensive legislation and policy frameworks aligned with the WHO FCTC. The Protocol Needs Assessment builds on these efforts by identifying priority actions—including enhanced enforcement, stronger intersectoral coordination, tighter supply chain control, and international cooperation—and emphasizes the need to introduce dissuasive sanctions and offences to effectively curb illicit trade.
The Protocol: a strategic tool
The Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products equips Parties with effective tools to:
- Address illicit trade in tobacco products
- Safeguard public health
- Protect national revenues and support economic development
By strengthening regulatory systems and improving information sharing across sectors, the Protocol helps governments close the gaps that enable illicit trade to flourish.
A step toward sustainable solutions to address illicit trade
With sustained collaboration, technical assistance, and strong institutional commitment, The Gambia is well-positioned to enhance its capacity to regulate the tobacco trade and prevent the harms associated with illicit trade—both within its borders and across the region.
This needs assessment marks an important step in reinforcing The Gambia’s commitment to evidence-based, multisectoral tobacco control—contributing to better health outcomes and stronger sustainable development.
