The Ecowas Commission has welcomed the decision of the Gambia government to re-gazette the draft constitution, saying that it “represents an important milestone in producing a new national blueprint reflecting the wishes of its citizens”

”The commission recognises that no constitution is perfect. It therefore calls on the government and people of The Gambia to focuson the greater national interestas they scrutnize the draft document prior to its presentation to a national referendum” Ecowas said. 

Ecowas added that it will supporting the people of The Gambia “in this exercise to produce a new constitution which would safeguard all interests in the country”.

The Gambia government announced earlier this week that it would re-gazette the draft constitution that was shelved three years ago after lawmakers from the ruling NPP party voted against it. 

”The draft, as it currently stands, reflects our national values and ethos, and is consistent with the existence of The Gambia as a sovereign independent republican state with a multi-party democracy premised on democratic principles with periodic elections based on universal adult suffrage” the Gambia government said in a statement. 

The re-gazette process will be for a three month period and subsequently for another ten days as required under the 1997 constitution it is meant to replace.