The Gambia Bar Association (GBA) has expressed grave concern about the lack of transparency over the draft constitution after the government announced plans to re-introduce it to parliament. 

Last week, the Gambia government announced that it has re-gazetted the draft constitution that was rejected by parliament three years ago. 

Despite welcoming the re-introduction of the draft constitution, GBA said it is “concerned that the Executive arm of the Government in its quest to reintroduce the Draft Constitution, did not engage other important stakeholders but instead went ahead to make unilateral amendments to the CRC 2020 Draft against the collaborative spirit that has characterised our transitional justice journey from 2017 to date.”

“The decision on the part of the Executive to go ahead with the redrafting and gazetting of the 2024 Bill without consulting other stakeholders, could pose challenges in building national consensus on the most important law of our nation and potentially undermine the legitimacy of the Bill and the process,” it added.

The Bar Association added that it will actively play its role in the next 90 days leading up to the tabling of the Bill in the National Assembly.

“We will engage other key stakeholders ranging from the Executive, National Assembly Members, Judiciary, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Religious groups and others during this period. We will also present a position paper after we have had the benefit of thoroughly reviewing the 2024 draft.”

Reporting by Adama Makasuba