Many Gambians residing in the provinces have called for a presidential term limit to be incorporated in the new Constitution under review.
Mr. Yankuba Faal, a Senior Secondary School teacher posting to Essau says the new constitution should set a term limit for presidency, adding that two five years term is enough for any future Gambian president.
According to him Africa’s greatest problem is overstayed in power and this can only be solved by introducing term limits in the constitution, adding that term limit will also motivate future presidents to be more focus on their jobs and discouraged the issue of self perpetuating rule in The Gambia and Africa as a whole.
Mr Faal was speaking to The Voice at Essau on the sidelines of the national consultation meetings of the Constitutional Review Commission on Wednesday November 7, 2018. “There should be a term limit for presidency in the constitution; this should be two five years term. I belief once we have that we will end self perpetuating rule in The Gambia,” Yankuba Faal told The Voice.
The Senior Secondary School teacher said it’s time for The Gambia to practice good democratic values that will promote rule of law, human rights and good governance.
He then said the CRC has given them the opportunity to participate in the process and come out with their views in a bit to making a good constitution that will be a people centered constitution.
According to him, the benchmark for an aspiring president should be at least a Senior Secondary School Certificate Holder, noting that what is important is to have a strong body of experts and technocrats to guide the president in the execution of their duty. “I don’t see the need for a higher qualification for the presidency and I belief a Senior Secondary Certificate is sufficient for the qualification,” he disclosed.
Also speaking to The Voice Sisawo Jatta a native of Albreda in Upper Nuimi said any future Gambian president should not serve beyond ten years.
According to him also, overstayed in presidency is a recipe for failure and creation of dictatorship, adding that The Gambia can emulate from the good practices of countries that respected the two term limits in their constitution.
“Term limits will help our future leaders to perform better before their mandating expired without which he said, we shall be building dictatorship,” Mr Jatta disclosed this to The Voice. He then said the young people with sound intellectual and academic qualifications should be considered for the office of presidency, adding that the same should be applied to the national assembly members and councilors.
“My opinion is ten years for any elective public office including the president, national assembly and councillorship. I do belief that, a university qualification of bachelors, should be the benchmark for one to run for these positions, “Jatta noted.
Alasan Jome, a 75year old farmer from Kerr Njorr who travelled from about 10km to attend the national consultation meetings organised to gear the Constitutional Review Commission said, two terms of five years should be the benchmark for any future Gambian president.
According to him, before anyone could contest for any elective public office must at least get a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, noting that lack of adequate education for public officials could outlay the country a lot as they can be misled by the technocrats in the execution of their duties.
He continues to state that any aspiring candidate must declare his/her assets before contesting for any public office and concluded that such person must be audited after the expiration of the first term of five years.
Author: Kebba Ansu Manneh
