Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Newly appointed Chief Justice Edi M.O. Faal has identified inadequate facilities, limited working space, and capacity constraints as some of the key challenges confronting the Judiciary following an onsite assessment of courts in Brikama.
Chief Justice Faal visited the Brikama High Court, Magistrates’ Court and Cadi Court on September 2, 2026, in what appears to be one of his early efforts to gain firsthand knowledge of the conditions under which judicial officers and staff operate.
Magistrates’ Court faces space constraints.
At the Brikama Magistrates’ Court, Registrar Ramatoulie Touray led the Chief Justice and his delegation on a tour of the premises and outlined several pressing concerns.
Among the most immediate problems is the condition of the courtrooms. The Magistrates’ Court has at least four courtrooms that require improved furniture and other facilities to adequately support the administration of justice.
The court is also facing a shortage of working space, with seized vehicles and other vehicles linked to pending cases occupying parts of the premises.
The presence of the vehicles has further reduced the available space and added to the operational difficulties faced by the court.
Although the court has received some new furniture from management, the Registrar told the Chief Justice that several issues affecting the court and its staff require urgent attention.
The High Court and Cadi Court also face challenges.
Similar concerns were raised during the visits to the Brikama High Court and Cadi Court.
Staff at both courts highlighted inadequate facilities, limited capacity, and generally unconducive working conditions, pointing to broader institutional challenges extending beyond the Magistrates’ Court.
The concerns raised during the visit suggest that the challenges are not limited to physical infrastructure but also affect the Judiciary’s ability to provide an environment conducive to the efficient administration of justice.
CJ Faal promises stakeholder engagement.
At the end of the visit, Chief Justice Faal assured judicial staff that the concerns raised would receive serious consideration.
He also pledged to engage relevant stakeholders to identify practical and sustainable solutions to the problems confronting the courts.
The visit is part of the Judiciary’s efforts under the new Chief Justice to assess court infrastructure, improve working conditions and strengthen the human-resource and institutional capacity required for effective justice delivery.
The Brikama assessment gives Chief Justice Faal a firsthand picture of some of the practical constraints facing the Judiciary as he begins his tenure, particularly the need for better court facilities, adequate working space, and improved institutional capacity.
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