BANJUL, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Gambia will start to issue a compulsory automobile liability insurance this month for drivers traveling in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member states.
The insurance, in a form of ECOWAS Brown Card, covers third party liabilities that drivers and motorcyclists incur while driving in ECOWAS member states, the Gambian National Bureau of Brown Card announced Wednesday.
The bloc in June 2017 adopted a Supplementary Act to urge member states implement the Brown Card scheme "within the shortest possible time," said Dawda Sarge, head of the bureau.
The scheme was established by the bloc in 1982 in a bid to guarantee the victims of road accidents a prompt and fair compensation of damages caused by motorists from member states, said the ECOWAS website.
The bloc's Ambassador to Gambia Vaba Gayflor said the compulsory issuance of the Brown Card would facilitate free movement of goods and personnels and hence foster economic integration of the 15-member bloc.
Gambia is the 10th country to commence the scheme.
