Fatoumatta Touma Njai, national assembly member for Banjul South, is seeking to table a bill in parliament for the second that seeks to give women more seats in parliament.

The bill was rejected in 2021 due to lack of quorum – a move seen by observers as deliberate action by lawmakers to kill the bill. 

However, MP Njai urged the country to emulate Sierra Leone who have passed similar bill in a historic landmark for African women representation in parliament.

According to her, once the bill passes it will give the Gambia a good image in promoting women representation.

“We should also emulate them to make sure we bring back this bill and pass it before our next election in 2027. 

“What I am hoping is once this bill passes either this year or early next year for IEC to call for a by-election and elect those additional female members to come and join us. Because it will be very good for The Gambia for female representations,” she told Gambiana exclusively.

Gambian women rights activists have been pushing for the passing of the bill, as they lament low women representation in decision-making positions in the country.