Africa-Press – Gambia. Borry S. Touray, Deputy Administrative Secretary for Legal and Human Rights and a flagbearer aspirant for the United Democratic Party (UDP), has called for urgent reforms to The Gambia’s legal system and anti-corruption framework. Touray emphasized the need to modernize outdated laws, strengthen enforcement mechanisms, and provide robust protections for whistleblowers.
“We have a law reform commission, but it’s not being utilized; a lot of work needs to be done, and the courts need to be expanded,” he said.
Touray highlighted concerns over outdated legislation, including the Public Order Act. “This Public Order Act. We’ve been complaining about it. Within the West African sub-region, most governments have repealed the Public Order Act. Not only the Public Order Act, but if you look at our law books, some laws date as far back as the 16th century here in the Gambia. So, we don’t, as we talk now, we don’t, as we talk now, have a comprehensive regime of law administration. We don’t, as we talk now, have a comprehensive code that embodies every form of crime that can be committed between a country,” he noted.
He also pointed to challenges facing the judiciary, including shortages of personnel in the High Court, Supreme Court, and magistrates’ courts. “In the high court bench alone, I have the view that we need no less than 21 judges or more; unless we take the bold step of expanding the judiciary, we will not be able to expeditiously hear and conclude cases,” he said.
On tackling corruption, Touray called for granting the National Audit Office statutory powers to investigate and make arrests, arguing that enforcement is key to combating malpractices.
“From the very point when you have come across malpractices and financial misappropriation, you should be able to have power. You should be able to have the power to effect an arrest there, and depending on the charge, you should have police powers,” he explained.
Touray also criticized government practices, such as excessive allowances for permanent secretaries serving on boards. “Paying allowances to permanent secretaries for board sittings goes way beyond ordinary salaries; that kind of practice should stop,” he added.
He stressed that anti-corruption laws must be backed by enforcement mechanisms and protections for whistleblowers. “If we are able to prosecute 45% or 50% of corruption cases, that is going to serve as a great deterrent against corruption and destruction,” he said.
Speaking on his political ambitions, Touray reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to the UDP and his readiness to serve fully as a barrister in public office.
He also underscored the importance of social cohesion and national unity, urging Gambians to rise above tribal and religious divisions. “We are one country, we must demonstrate patriotism and live above pettiness and prejudice to build and consolidate social cohesion,” he said.
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