Gambia's President to receive draft constitution on Monday

Banjul, Gambia (PANA) - Gambia’s Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) says the draft constitution has been finalised and will be submitted to President Adama Barrow on Monday.

This follows a series of consultations with Gambians at home and abroad as to how they wish to be governed, a statement issued by CRC’s Communication Department said. 

The CRC said it is gratifying to note that a lot of effort was invested by Gambians from all walks of life to ensure that the Commission produces a Constitution that will stand the test of time and become a model for not only the African continent but the World at large.

The draft constitution spells out two five-year terms for the president. If the term-limit clause survives any changes, it will be a welcome development for a majority of Gambians who hold the view that the 22-year-long dictatorship of the recent past was possible due to lack of term limit for the president in the 1997 constitution.

A section of the constitution dealing with the integrity of the presidency states that the President shall within three months of assuming office, disclose to the Anti-corruption Commission all liabilities and business interests he or she has or that is held on his or her behalf.

Similarly, all the assets, liabilities and business interests of the presidential spouse held by or on behalf of the spouse shall be disclosed to the anti-corruption commission within three months of leaving office.

The drafting process was preceded by a series of consultations, meetings, surveys and research exercises.

As part of the national consultations, some 106 meetings were held across different communities within the seven administrative areas of The Gambia.

External consultations were also held in several European cities and capitals where there are high concentrations of Gambians as well as in America and other African nations.

-0- PANA MLJ/MA 27March2019