Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – In a significant move towards enfranchising the Gambian diaspora, the Ministry of Justice and GK Partners, in collaboration with the National Assembly, hosted a day-long retreat over the weekend. It was the occasion for lawmakers and key stakeholders to discuss the critical and lagging issue of diaspora voting and representation.

Professor Gibril Faal, Director of GK Partners, which is the implementing agency for the Migration and Sustainable Development in The Gambia Project, highlighted the urgent need to end the disenfranchisement of tens of thousands of Gambian voters living abroad. Emphasizing the importance of commitment and action, Professor Faal addressed the National Assembly members, urging them to overcome practical concerns and support the initiative.

“So you will have questions. You will have practical issues that concern you. Our point to you, our request, and our begging to you are that those are nowhere near enough for you to object, impede, or in any way hinder this,” Professor Faal stated passionately.

To actualize diaspora voting and representation, several steps are necessary. These include passing the election bill by the National Assembly, demarcating diaspora constituencies by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), and conducting diaspora voter registration by the IEC.

Abdoulie Ceesay, the Deputy Majority Leader, expressed strong support for the diaspora’s involvement in the electoral process, noting its potential to significantly benefit The Gambia. “The diaspora is a critical part of our country, and of course, being part of our electoral process is also going to support Gambia a lot,” he said.

Madi Mk Ceesay, the Deputy Minority Leader, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the readiness of National Assembly members to take the necessary steps. “Therefore, we as national assembly members, as members of this six-page schedule, are really more than ready and willing to do the needful, to do what we are supposed to do,” he affirmed.

Suleyman Jammeh, co-chair of the Election Bill Joint Committee, reinforced the necessity of proper representation for national development. “And for me, my philosophy is that if we want to develop as a country, we must have proper representation,” he said.

Samba Baldeh, co-chair of the Inter-Party Committee, also recognized the diaspora as a critical contributor to national development. He emphasized the importance of inclusive politics, stating, “When Gambians can vote wherever they live, democracy and inclusive politics will win.”

The Gambian constitution guarantees every citizen aged 18 or older and of sound mind the right to vote in presidential and national assembly elections. However, the lack of demarcated diaspora constituencies forces diasporans to return home to register and vote.

Attorney General and Minister of Justice Dawda A. Jallow reassured the stakeholders of the government’s commitment to resolving the constitutional challenges. “Of course, the constitutional challenges remain. There is an attempt to remedy them under the current constitution through a constitutional amendment, which, for a moment, is able to come to life in time. We hope that’s also a second opportunity to deal with this issue holistically in the Constitution,” he said. However, he cautioned that whether the diaspora will vote in the next electoral cycle depends on the National Assembly amending the country’s laws to enable this long-desired change.

As efforts continue to bring about this significant reform, the collaborative resolve of lawmakers and key partners remains crucial to ensuring that Gambian diaspora voters are finally granted their constitutional right to participate in the nation’s democratic process.