Parliamentary News
Askanwi reporters publish news and featured articles on Parliamentary proceedings. Askanwi is the home of the Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter.
Parliament’s Media Team issued this statement, highlighting that a no-show by Janjanbureh Council has resulted in a scheduled oversight meeting being cancelled. As a result, a Parliamentary Select Committee’s planned oversight trip to visit sites in the regions has also been cancelled. This is not the first time such disruption is occurring from Janjanbureh Council. More in the presser.
Almost a year after the First National Dialogue held in February 2024, a report published on the engagement highlights how the Executive was cautioned to build consensus prior to tabling a new Draft Constitution in Parliament. More in this report.
The Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) conducted a one-day training for Members of the National Assembly on Post-Legislature Scrutiny on Saturday, 18th January 2024. More in the report.
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 23rd 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.
Feature Publications
The Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter is an initiative focusing on the Gambia’s National Assembly proceedings. Download free electronic copies online on the Askanwi Parliament page.
Last week, a notice from the Gambia National Assembly’s Office of the Clerk addressed to Parliamentarians highlighted that finances for the 2024 Constituency Development Fund would not be disbursed. Our reporter managed to contact the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Clerk on the issue and also featured reactions from Parliamentarians on the cancellation. More in this feature report.
This publication reveals how Parliamentarians deducted over D740 million from the Draft 2025 Appropriation Bill and distributed the same amount on the Approved 2025 Appropriation Bill. Our calculations and research make use of Parliament’s report recommending cuts and additions. More in the report.
This FactCheck interrogates a misleading headline by a leading newspaper, Foroyaa, claiming that Hon. Njai won a case against the PPP and it’s leadership. After getting hold of the judgment, our reporters brought out the facts and highlighted that the headline was indeed misleading. More in the report.
Four Gambian Civil Society Advocates have filed a lawsuit against the state in the Supreme Court against the Finance Minister’s alleged failure to table the 2025 budget as mandated by the amended 1997 Constitution today, 19th December 2024.
This opinion piece delves into the government’s plans to increase taxes by 23% in 2025 and interrogates the National Assembly’s role in reviewing the Government’s Revenue Measures. Will Parliament debate this important issue, which will impact the cost of living next year?
Information received by Askanwi Media highlights that the Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) will table the 2025 Draft Budget tomorrow 15th November requesting Parliamentary approval for over D52.9 Billion in expenditure.
Our monitoring of Parliament has revealed that the Finance Minister may have failed to comply with the Amended provision 152 (1) to table the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure sixty (60) days before the end of the year which was the last day of October 2024. Parliament is also failing its role to monitor the implementation of the 2024 Budget since the First Ordinary Session.
In July 2024, two of the country’s leading newspapers reported or published articles stating that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rejected a partnership to establish a special tribunal in The Gambia to try perpetrators identified in the Truth, Reparations and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC).
The headlines are MISLEADING.
This factsheet highlights how members of the sixth legislature voted on the Parliamentary Report prepared by the Joint Committee on Bill to repeal the ban on Female Genital Mutilation / Circumcision.
Since the exchange of press releases between the Judiciary, the National Assembly’s Finance and Public Accounts Committee and the National Audit Office earlier in April 2024, the question remained unanswered as to when the Judiciary was last audited. This article aims to verify the last time the Judiciary was audited.
Videos
Hon Njai of Banjul Central Responds to Concerns on Draft Constitution
The National Assembly Member for Banjul Central Hon Abdoulie Njai held a Constituency Dialogue with his electorates on Friday 16th August 2024 organized by Activista the Gambia. Watch the question and response on the Draft Constitution.
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Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter
The Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter is an initiative focusing on the Gambia’s National Assembly proceedings. Download free electronic copies online on the Askanwi Parliament page.
Coming soon…
The Ministry of Trade’s Permanent Secretary revealed that domestic workers in Saudi Arabia will be paid $200 USD monthly while the government attempts to negotiate more wages. More in this publication highlighting some revelations from a Parliamentary oversight meeting.