The Gambia’s draft Constitution is finally published in Gazette as part of the legal 

requirement for its presentation to the National Assembly.

The Ministry of Justice said in a statement on Friday “the Bill for an Act to promulgate the Constitution of The Republic of The Gambia, 2020 and repeal the Constitution of The Republic of The Gambia, 1997 has now been completed and was published in the Gazette yesterday 28th May, 2020.”

The Ministry described the gazetting as the first of such publication, adding “the second publication of the Bill in the Gazette shall occur 3 months from this date.

“Thereafter, the Bill should be ready for introduction into the National Assembly at least 10 days after the date of the second publication in the Gazette pursuant to section 226 of the 1997 Constitution.”

The statement added: “The Ministry wishes to thank the general public for their continued interest and engagement in this Constitutional review process.”

Gambians have been actively involved in drafting of the new constitution which if voted in a referendum will replace the 1997 Constitution.

But opinions differ on the draft constitution as a vocal minority have criticised it as “plagiarised” whiles others have called it “progressive”.  

It has been announced by the presidency that the draft constitution will be table before lawmakers for debate in August 2020.

About 116 million dalasis have been spent on drafting the constitution, the Constitutional Review Commission said.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba