In 2018, The Gambia’s National Assembly established a Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), and President Adama Barrow appointed 11 commissioners to lead the process of drafting a new constitution. By March 2020, the CRC submitted its Final Draft. However, on September 22, 2020, the draft was rejected by the National Assembly after 23 members, widely believed to be allies of President Barrow, voted against it. For the draft to pass, 75% of the National Assembly would have needed to vote in its favor, an outcome it fell short of achieving.

With that historical context in mind, let’s examine the recent developments. After actively lobbying against the CRC draft and defeating it in parliament, President Barrow and his cabinet clandestinely amended the CRC’s final draft, excluding key stakeholders from the process. These amendments, designed to entrench Barrow’s presidency and weaken democratic safeguards, were re-gazetted on August 14, 2024. The revised bill is expected to be reviewed by the National Assembly in March and potentially presented for a national referendum later this year.

Given that the NPP holds the majority in parliament, if the tabled bill progresses beyond the second reading to the committee stage in the National Assembly, it will no longer require the 75% threshold to advance to a referendum. Instead, it will rely on a simple majority. This gives the NPP a significant advantage, enabling them to approve or amend the Barrow draft constitution as they see fit.

It would be a grave mistake for opposition members of parliament to allow a document as crucial as a national constitution to rest solely in the hands of NPP National Assembly Members. The NPP has already demonstrated to Gambians that their primary agenda is to safeguard President Adama Barrow’s political interests, not the nation’s welfare. Such a decision would be a betrayal of the democratic process and the aspirations of the Gambian people.

In a functional democracy, laws should reflect the will of the majority while protecting their rights. However, the Barrow draft constitution prioritizes the interests of the president and his cabinet, leaving the majority of Gambians vulnerable to authoritarianism. Under Barrow’s leadership, The Gambia’s political sphere has become consumed by ego and personal ambition, a zero-sum game where winning and losing overshadow good governance, democratic practices, and national interests. Barrow has made politics a personal battle against the United Democratic Party (UDP) and Honorable Ousainou Darboe, losing sight of the bigger picture, the Gambian people.

I am calling on all Gambians to demand accountability and transparency from President Barrow and his administration. They must be held accountable for breaking their campaign promises and for failing to act in the national interest. They must be transparent in all dealings concerning matters of national importance. Above all, Barrow must deliver a dignified and democratic constitution that Gambians deserve.

Accountability and transparency are not merely buzzwords, they are essential for safeguarding our democracy. No, we don’t just want a new constitution. We need a constitution with robust, just, and equitable laws that guide and protect us. Advocating for good laws and governance does not make anyone holier-than-thou, it stems from the recognition that all humans are fallible. Laws are there to ensure fairness and justice, free from bias or discrimination. Lady Justice is blindfolded for this reason. She sees no race, gender, class, or creed, serving only the cause of justice.

As a proud member of the UDP, I believe we have a country to build, and political parties will naturally propose competing visions and strategies for our nation’s future. However, these differences should never derail our collective national interests. The UDP has consistently expressed its willingness to engage with all stakeholders to discuss the 2020 CRC draft. What the UDP will not do is compromise the will of 2.4 million Gambians for the sake of one individual’s self-interest.

Disagreements and debates are inevitable in nation-building, but we must never allow these divisions to fester into hate or selfish motives that undermine our democracy. Those who act out of greed and betrayal must be called out and held accountable for jeopardizing our collective progress, without generalizing or trivializing matters.

I urge all National Assembly members to reject Barrow’s draft and send it back to the statehouse, demanding a consultative meeting that includes all relevant stakeholders to revisit the 2020 CRC draft. The draft must then be reintroduced to the National Assembly for proper consideration.

Anything less than this would be a direct assault on our national interests and the aspirations of all Gambians.

Affably Yours
Saikou Camara