Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Chief Justice of The Gambia, Hon. Hassan B. Jallow, has urged the nation not to abandon efforts to establish a new constitutional order, calling for a pragmatic and consensus-driven approach to ongoing constitutional reforms.
In a rare public intervention on the constitutional debate, Chief Justice Jallow made the remarks over the weekend while delivering a public lecture on the theme “Sir Dawda’s Leadership Role in Regional Peace and Security and His Contributions to the Institutionalization of Democracy and Human Rights in The Gambia and the Continent.”
He emphasized that the aspiration for a new constitution that reflects the present and future needs of the country remains both necessary and achievable. “The dream of a new Constitution befitting the needs of the country today and those of future generations is an endeavor we must realize in our time,” he said.
Chief Justice Jallow noted that the failure to adopt a new constitution since 2017 stemmed largely from a lack of consensus on certain critical provisions in successive draft constitutions. Nonetheless, he cautioned against abandoning the reform process altogether.
“We must not give up. But perhaps we should change strategy,” he said. “We must not throw out the baby with the bathwater. Undoubtedly, there are several important aspects of both the 2022 and the 2024 draft constitutions on which there is consensus.”
He proposed that lawmakers and stakeholders focus on areas of agreement by amending the 1997 Constitution to reflect widely accepted reforms, while leaving contentious issues for resolution at a later stage.
According to him, such an approach would allow the country to make incremental but meaningful progress toward strengthening democracy and good governance.
“The areas of disagreement may be resolved at a time perhaps more conducive to agreement on the matters that presently divide us,” the Chief Justice opined, adding that this strategy would help secure a constitutional framework embodying many of the nation’s democratic aspirations.
Beyond constitutional matters, Chief Justice Jallow paid tribute to The Gambia’s first president, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, describing his life and leadership as worthy of national celebration. He called on Gambians not only to remember Sir Dawda’s achievements but also to recommit themselves to the values he championed.
“These include respect for the law and the rule of law, human rights and democratic principles, national unity and solidarity, tolerance and patience in our relations with one another, and an abiding commitment to progress, social justice, and prosperity,” he said, also highlighting Sir Dawda’s emphasis on self-reliance through the TESITO movement.
Chief Justice Jallow stressed that The Gambia’s sovereignty must remain firmly anchored in these core values and remain uncompromising in their defense. He added that safeguarding the independence and sovereignty for which Sir Dawda and his contemporaries struggled should remain a central responsibility of the present generation and those to come.
