“If you think you can’t desist from skin bleaching, please bring us our uniform and you leave because skin bleaching is not going to be compromised.”

These were the words of Deputy Superintendent Omar Saidykhan of the Gambia Immigration Department (GID). He was addressing immigration officers in the Kanifing Municipality during a recently familiarisation visit.

According to the outspoken deputy superintendent, the GID is a disciplinary force and indiscipline will not be compromised. 

He threatened that any female officer found tampering with the complexion of her natural skin will be dismissed.

“Skin bleaching is against the code of conduct, in fact, it’s in the constitution. It’s against the laws,” he said in the presence of GID’s Director General, Buba Sagnia.

Saidykhan warned his colleagues to desist from anything that is against the department’s code of conduct and the laws of The Gambia.

However, skin bleaching is still common among immigration officers despite a ban passed by the former government under ex-President Jammeh.