The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dawda Jallow, has called on lawmakers to support the 2024 draft constitution, warning that rejecting the bill would amount to a betrayal of the Gambian people and the country’s constitutional reform process.

Speaking as he tabled the draft bill for its second reading in the National Assembly, Mr Jallow said parliament must not repeat the mistakes of 2020, when an earlier version of the draft was rejected.

“To vote against the second reading would be, once again, to deny ourselves and the Gambian people this opportunity for constructive engagement,” he told lawmakers.

“It would mean that we have chosen to abandon the constitutional process rather than engage in it.”

Mr Jallow urged National Assembly Members to “demonstrate the statesmanship that our people expect and deserve,” saying the current moment represents a crucial opportunity to advance democratic reform.

The 2024 draft has been the subject of significant political debate. Critics say it expands executive powers and lacks some of the accountability mechanisms found in the 2020 draft. Supporters argue it is a pragmatic compromise aimed at breaking years of deadlock on constitutional reform.

“We learned from the unfortunate experience of 2020, when this august Assembly voted against the previous constitutional bill, preventing it from proceeding to a third reading,” he added.

“That setback taught us valuable lessons about the importance of dialogue, compromise, and the willingness to engage in constructive discussion.”

He acknowledged that the proposed draft may not be perfect but insisted that no bill before the Assembly ever has been.

The fate of the draft now lies with the Assembly, where it must secure a three-quarters majority to proceed.

By Adama Makasuba