Breaking: 2024 Draft Constitution Set for Parliament in November and December 2024
President Barrow and Justice Minister Jallow © Askanwi Media
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
After its shocking rejection by members of the Fifth Legislature back on 22nd September 2020, the 2024 Draft Constitution is scheduled for a return to Parliament in November and December 2024. According to the Approved Agenda of the Fourth Ordinary Session of the 2024 Legislative Year received by Askanwi, the much-anticipated 2024 Draft Constitution will be tabled in Parliament on 27th November 2024.
The 2024 Draft Constitution (Promulgation Bill) was Gazetted on 14th August 2024 and must observe a 100 days’ notice period before being tabled in Parliament. After the notice period which is scheduled to conclude on 24th November, the 2024 Draft Constitution is scheduled for its First Reading on 27th November and it's all important Second Reading on 21st December 2024.
The First Reading is a formality where the Minister for Justice is expected to table the Bill and read out its title. The Second Reading will feature the Minister for Justice reading the Reasons and Merits of the Bill after which Parliamentarians will debate over the Bill. After the debate, at least 42 Parliamentarians are required to vote in favour of the Bill to proceed to the Committee Stage where a Parliamentary Committee will review the Bill and submit a report for Parliamentary Approval.
It can be recalled that back on 22nd September 2020, 23 National Assembly Members voted against the 2020 Draft Constitution while only 31 members voted in favour of the Bill progressing for Committee Review.
Majority of the members who voted against the Bill were affiliated to the NRP, APRC, GDC and one PPP member. Prior to the rejection, eight former UDP members had defected to President Adama Barrow who also had the backing of NRP and PPP by then.
On the other hand, Parliamentarians who voted in favour of the Bill were mostly aligned with the UDP, PDOIS and one GDC member.
It's important to note that one member was out of the country and another was out of the Chambers at the time of voting. The Speaker of the House, Hon Mariam Jack Denton did not vote and Hon Demba Sowe for Niamiana West of the Gambia Democratic Congress was deceased by then.
It's left to be seen if members of the Sixth Legislature will likewise reject the 2024 Draft Constitution like their predecessors, or if they will pass it to a Parliamentary Committee. The Minister for Justice Hon Dawda A Jallow had promised that a new Constitution is expected to be in place in 2025 after President Adama Barrow’s failed new year promise for a Constitution Referendum this year.
Currently, the Sixth Legislature has 18 members from President Adama Barrow’s NPP, 15 from the UDP, 12 Independent, 4 NRP, and 2 each from APRC and PDOIS. Meanwhile another five nominated members are affiliated to the President’s NPP with the Speaker being the leader of the APRC.
