Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Gambian For All (GFA) party has criticized the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for hastily endorsing the Barrow administration’s actions regarding the recently gazetted draft constitution. The opposition party argues that the regional body overlooked critical factors, enabling the government to advance an agenda that does not align with the wishes of the majority of Gambians.

The GFA emphasizes that the long-standing partnership between ECOWAS and The Gambia, once highly valued and mutually beneficial, is now under scrutiny. The regional bloc’s involvement in resolving the post-2016 election crisis and maintaining stability during the transition period earned it widespread respect among Gambians. However, the GFA believes that ECOWAS failed to apply the same level of caution and diligence when dealing with recent developments under President Adama Barrow.

The party highlights Barrow’s decision to break the coalition’s 2016 political agreement, which initially set a three-year transition period. Barrow’s subsequent decision to stay in power for a full five-year term and later run as a candidate in the 2021 presidential elections signaled a shift away from the democratic aspirations many hoped for in a post-dictatorship Gambia. According to the GFA, this shift has compromised the country’s progress toward true democratic governance.

A key concern raised by the GFA is the handling of the 2020 draft constitution, which was widely anticipated as a milestone in Gambia’s democratic transition. Despite being prepared by the respected Constitutional Review Commission, the draft was voted down by the legislature. Critics argue that this move, backed by Barrow’s administration, deprived Gambians of a chance to overhaul the controversial 1997 constitution, which heavily favors the executive.

Rather than seeking public consultation, the Barrow government delayed the process and only two years before the next election, presented a new draft constitution through the official gazette. Upon close examination, it became apparent that the new draft diverged significantly from the 2020 version, sparking fears of executive tampering. The GFA insists that ECOWAS should have been more cautious in endorsing this new draft, given its potential to undermine the aspirations of Gambian citizens.

The GFA’s position is clear: the ECOWAS commission’s support for the Barrow administration’s constitutional changes could have far-reaching implications for governance and democracy in The Gambia. The party’s statement echoes the concerns of many who wish to see a Gambia with strong institutions, governed by a constitution that genuinely reflects the will of its people, rather than executive interests.