Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Solicitor General and Legal Secretary announced on Monday that the Cabinet has recently concluded its deliberations on the draft constitution, marking a significant step in the Gambia’s constitutional reform process. Speaking at a press conference, Hussein Thomasi said the Ministry of Justice has been tasked with compiling the report, aiming to gazette the draft constitution in preparation for its presentation to the National Assembly.
“The gazetting process is expected to take approximately three months, followed by an additional ten days to complete the cycle,” the Sollicitor General revealed. This timeline indicates that the draft constitution could be brought before the National Assembly by the last quarter of this year, likely in December.
Although this development aligns with the government’s promise to bring back the constitution, a commitment it is now fulfilling, it indicates that a referendum on the subject is unlikely to be held in December, as previously promised by President Adama Barrow in his annual State of the Nation address.
The draft constitution in question is the one that resulted from an act of parliament, which established the Constitution Review Commission (CRC). The CRC, after a comprehensive three-year period of extensive deliberations, produced the draft that has now been reviewed by the Cabinet.
According to the Solicitor General, the Cabinet’s recent considerations focused on this original draft. Any potential adjustments to the draft remain the prerogative of the Cabinet. However, it is the same draft that the CRC submitted, ensuring continuity and adherence to the extensive consultations and deliberations undertaken during the review process.
As the draft constitution moves closer to National Assembly review, the government reiterates its dedication to the constitutional reform process, a critical component of The Gambia’s ongoing democratic transition. The forthcoming months will be crucial as the nation anticipates the Assembly’s deliberations and potential adoption of the draft constitution.
