Official Communications & Secrecy
Rules governing how official correspondence is routed, the channels for communicating with external bodies, the Declaration of Secrecy every officer must swear, classified document handling, and the consequences of breaching confidentiality.
Chapter 12 of the General Orders establishes the entire framework for government communications and security. All communication with outside authorities must be channelled through the Office of the President and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (GO 12103). Communication with any Ministry goes through its Permanent Secretary (GO 12104). Subordinate officers must channel official communication through their Head of Department (GO 12105). Legal matters require Attorney General advice before external correspondence (GO 12107). All correspondence must be courteous, concise, and confined to a single subject (GO 12108–12109). On security: correspondence between officers is not divulged without the originator's permission (GO 12201). Officers may not produce confidential documents in court without expressed Ministry permission (GO 12202). No officer has access to their own confidential personnel records (GO 12204). Every officer must swear a Declaration of Secrecy before taking office — those already in post who have not must make the declaration immediately (GO 12207). Contravention of the Declaration constitutes an offence subject to disciplinary proceedings (GO 12208). Ministries must comply with the Official Secrets Act (GO 12206). GO 03103 separately prohibits communicating official information to the press or external persons without Head of Department, PS, or Secretary General authorization.
The Code of Conduct reinforces the secrecy and communications framework. Section 4.5.2 prohibits using or disclosing official information for personal gain. Section 4.2.5 recognises the public's right of access to information — but explicitly excludes legally protected, classified, or restricted information. This creates an important balance under Gambian law: the public has a general right to government information, but civil servants must protect classified material. The seven fundamental values in the Introduction include 'to avoid disclosure of official confidential information' as a core ethical standard.