General News

Gambia to revisit draft constitution amidst political tensions

Date: Aug 19, 2024

The Gambian government has declared its intention to re-gazette the draft constitution which had been previously set aside three years ago.

The initial rejection of the draft by the majority of the ruling National People's Party's Members of Parliament and their allies stemmed from discomfort with several of its provisions.

Key issues included the proposed term limits for the presidency and the use of the term 'secular' in describing the state, which sparked considerable controversy.

Senior Reporter Omar Bah from The Standard Newspaper highlighted the central concerns that led to the shelving of the draft.

"The primary contention was the retroactive clause, which, if passed, would have implications for the current President. Additionally, there was resistance to the separation of powers designed to hold the president and the executive accountable, which some felt granted excessive authority to the national assembly, potentially overshadowing the president's power," Bah explained.

In response to these concerns, the latest version of the draft has omitted the contentious retroactive clause, indicating a potential shift in the political landscape and opening the door for further debate and revision.

--ChannelAfrica--

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