By Kemo Kanyi
The government of the Gambia said it has thoroughly reviewed the draft Constitution presented by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) in 2020, according to the Ministry of Information on its official Facebook page.
The statement said the draft Constitution that was introduced by the Constitutional Review Commission in the re-gazette sets out presidential term limits and puts the office of the president accountable.
“For the first time in the history of our Constitutional development, the draft introduces term limits for persons serving in the office of President and a mechanism of justice and accountability for atrocious crimes,” it stated.
The Ministry of Information, said: “The government of the Gambia wishes to inform the general public that it has considered and reviewed the draft constitution that was presented by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) on March 2020 and has decided after a thorough deliberation to re-gazette the Constitution for eventual tabling before the National Assembly.”
The draft will be gazetted for three months and subsequently for another ten days as required by the 1997 constitution.
“The draft, as it stands, reflects our national values and ethos, and is consistent with the existence of The Gambia as a sovereign independent republican State with a multi-party democracy premised on democratic principles with periodic elections based on universal adult suffrage.
“The draft also, by our established beliefs and values, recognizes and acknowledges fundamental human rights and freedoms for all Gambians and non-Gambians alike,” the Ministry of Information explained.
The draft constitution is available at the Gambia Printing and Publishing Cooperation as well as on the website of the Ministry of Information.
The government promised to keep the public apprised of the status of the draft as it progresses.
