Pressure Group Granted Permit to Protest for 2020 Draft Constitution Tomorrow
Coalition of Progressive Gambians and Others outside Court © Kexx Sanneh
By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
The Coalition of Progressive Gambians (CoPG) have been issued a protest permit by the Gambia Police Force yesterday 5th November 2024 to protest tomorrow, 7th November 2024 in Banjul.
Speaking to the Chairperson of the pressure group, Mr Seedy Cham, he informed Askanwi that the protest is for a return of the 2020 Draft Constitution which Parliamentarians aligned to President Adama Barrow rejected in September 2020.
Our medium published the news that the Minister for Justice, is set to table the 2024 Draft Constitution on 27th November 2024 for its First Reading with a Second Reading scheduled for 21st December 2024.
According to the letter signed by Assistant Inspector General of Police Pateh Jallow “permission has been granted to [CoPG] to go ahead with [their] peaceful protest stated for 7th November 2024 commencing from 11:00 hrs to 13:00hrs from Bond Road Junction (Opposite Jah Oil) to the first gate of the National Assembly (Opposite the Christian Cemetery) Banjul”.
Importantly the letter indicates that CoPG sent a protest permit request since 29th August 2024, however, our medium has been reliably informed that the Police have delayed issuing a permit until yesterday.
One of the conditions of the letter indicates that “a two man delegation is permitted to deliver the petition to the representatives of the National Assembly and the Ministry of Justice respectively at the National Assembly grounds”.
Additionally, a “press briefing be held at the front gate of the National Assembly building opposite the Christian Cemetery”.
The Chairperson of the pressure group, Mr Seedy Cham, informed Askanwi that the protest is about the 2020 Draft Constitution which the Government has spent over *D120 million on after consultation with Gambians at home and abroad.
Speaking in Wollof, Mr Cham noted that “Gambians were hopeful that the 2020 Draft Constitution would have ushered us into the Third Republic but that has failed. The reason the 2020 Draft Constitution failed is because Parliamentarians aligned with the President voted against the Bill”.
“Since then we are saying that on the 7th of November 2024 we will be protesting for a return of the 2020 Draft Constitution” noted Mr Cham.
