Africa-Press – Gambia. Hon. Halifa Sallah, a prominent member of the People’s Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), has strongly criticized the government for failing to adequately consult stakeholders on the 2024 draft constitution. He made the remarks during a public lecture on constitutional reform aired on Eye Africa TV.
“We are being offered an opportunity to look at this draft, because even if they have not consulted as they should have, and they should be condemned for that, because you, if you fail to consult, you will still bring it to the National Assembly, and you have no power to make it the constitution of the land. The ruling party has no power to make this the constitution of the land. So consultation was necessary. Then maybe we could have prevented where we are. Sallah emphasized that the bill now lies within the jurisdiction of the National Assembly, not the executive. “But now it is the National Assembly that owns the bill. Emphasis, it is the National Assembly that owns the bill. It is no longer the executive,” Sallah said.
He further urged lawmakers to consider the broader implications of discarding the bill outright.
“So it’s the National Assembly that has the authority to do anything it wants with the bill. The question for them is, would it be wise just to throw it away and deprive the Gambian people of the opportunity to scrutinize the bill clause by clause? Or would it be better to move it to the committee stage so that we know the minds of everybody? The political parties will send their opinions. Civil society will do the same. The religious committee will do the same. Faith groups will do the same. Everybody will speak their mind on the constitution. We know where everybody stands, but if it is thrown, nobody knows where anybody stands,” he said.
According to Sallah, the draft presents a rare opportunity for civic education and national dialogue on constitutional issues.
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