As Gambians await a new Constitution, with strong opposition from opposition party leaders and several civil society organisations, Justice Minister Hon. Dawda A. Jallow has pledged to defend the 2024 Draft Constitution in Parliament. More in the report from the first Mansakunda Townhall of 2025.

The Justice Minister, Hon. Dawda A. Jallow, tabled the 2024 Draft Constitution in Parliament for its First Reading on Monday, 23rd December 2024. More in the report.

The National Assembly descended into chaos after Speaker of the House, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, ruled for the Member for Central Baddibu, Hon. Sulayman Saho, to vacate the chambers on 23^rd December 2024. On the same day, Pollsters, Afrobarometer issued a survey highlighting that Parliamentarians reserved the least approval after the President and Local Government Councillors. More in the report.

The Minority Leader of the 6th Legislature revealed that Constitution Talks with International IDEA's Dr Ibn Chambas led to the 2024 Draft Constitution being delayed in Parliament. Instead of 27th November, the First Reading will now take place on 23rd December 20204. More in the report.

The National Human Rights Commission issued a Communique on their recently concluded convergence on the 2024 Draft Constitution with some 100 stakeholders recommending changes to be included by the National Assembly. More in the publication.

The 2024 Draft Constitution will no longer hold it’s second reading in December 2024 according to Parliament’s Revised Agenda. Meanwhile, in another related matter, International IDEA’s Dr Chambas has flown into town to hold “Constitution Talks” with various stakeholders after disagreements on the level of stakeholder consultations resulting in the promulgation of the 2024 Draft Constitution. More in the report.

Hon Fatoumatta Njie of Banjul South maintained her parliamentary seat for Banjul South but lost her application for series of injunctions against the leadership of the People’s Progressive Party, Mr Kebba Jallow on Thursday 5th December 2024.
More in the story.

This report revisits The Gambia’s responsibility to invest time and resources to replace the century old Lunatics Detention Act still in use since the Colonial period as recommended by the ACHPR some 21 years ago. Our report interrogates the government’s efforts to improve mental health care in the country.

The Minority Leader for the Sixth Legislature raised a Point of Order labelling the tabling of the 2025 Budget by the Minister for Finance as unconstitutional. After an eventful session which was interrupted twice, Speaker Jatta ruled for the Finance Minister to apologize and proceed with tabling the Budget.

This is the ruling of the Speaker of the Sixth Legislature, Hon Fabakary Tombong Jatta, delivered on 15th November 2024 at the Gambia’s National Assembly in Banjul on the laying of the 2025 Budget.