By Ramatoulie Jawo
The Minister of Public Service, Administrative Reform, Policy Coordination, and Delivery, Hon. Baboucarr Bouy, has clarified the legal stance on civil servants’ involvement in political activities.
He made this clarification at the National Assembly while responding to a question from the National Assembly Member for Tallinding, Hon. Musa Badjie, who sought to know whether civil servants or civil service office holders are permitted—under law, regulations, or procedures—to engage in political activities.
In response, Minister Bouy cited General Order 03104, which grants civil servants the right to hold personal political views and vote in elections. However, he emphasized that:
“He or she may become a member of a political party or organization but may not accept any office whether paid or unpaid, permanent or temporary in any political party or organization. Nor may he or she make speeches, join in demonstrations, or in any other way indicate publicly his or her support for any political party, organization, person or policy nor shall he or she be required to do so in the course of his or her duties,” he said.
He further referenced Section 4.3.7 of the Civil Service Code of Conduct, which states that civil servants must refrain from engaging in party political activities while performing their official duties.
Minister Bouy stressed that these regulations align with Section 171 of the Constitution, which explicitly states: “a person holding an office in a public service shall not hold office in any political party.”
He stated that, given the above considerations, it is incorrect for civil servants or public office holders to be openly involved in political activities.
During his supplementary question, Hon. Badjie asked the minister whether his ministry monitors the political space to identify public service holders engaged in such activities and enforces the penalties outlined in the regulations.
In response, the minister clarified that his ministry does not focus on the political space, as their primary responsibility is to oversee office operations and assess the productivity of civil servants.
Hon. Badjie further argued that the laws are designed to address civil servants’ conduct in public spaces. He questioned how the ministry could hold individuals accountable for engaging in political activities if they do not actively monitor the political sphere.
The minister reiterated that if politicians observe civil servants participating in political activities and have concerns, they should file a formal complaint with the Public Service Commission, which will then conduct the necessary investigation.
Hon. Yahya Sanyang, the member for LatriKunda Sabiji, noted that when parliament was drafting the laws cited by the minister, their primary objectives were likely to safeguard public resources and ensure the continuity and stability of the public service.
“Now just look at your ministry, administrative reform, policy coordination so it is my opinion that honorable minister you should be able to coordinate which civil servants are behaving or misbehaving like the governors,” he said. The minister clarified that policy coordination does not entail monitoring or regulating the actions of governors and other political figures.
Hon. Assan Touray, the representative for Bakau, questioned what measures the ministry is taking to ensure that civil servants refrain from openly engaging in politics.
In response, the minister stated that the relevant laws and regulations are provided to civil servants upon employment and are also accessible on the PMO website for their reference.
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