By Mustapha Jallow
Senior staff for the National Council for Civic Education (NCCE) in partnership with UNDP and EU the Gambia has urged Gambian citizens to deeply view the draft constitution dialogue with an open mind to actively and effectively participate in the process. NCCE continued its sensitisation of the draft constitution in rural Gambia, facilitating the participation of local authorities in the constitutional building process.
The civic institution has embarked on a series of public engagements across the country regarding potential changes in the constitution in line with their civic rights and responsibilities as a good basis for national development.
With support from UNDP-EU under the “GREAT Project” phase focused on training trainers for community-based organizations, local volunteers, and community leaders respectively.
Themed: “A New Constitution for a New Republic: Get Informed, Get Involved’’ is aimed to equip CBOs and local volunteers, community leaders, and educators with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively disseminate information and engage with the citizenry on the Draft Constitution and referendum-related topics, share information and address misconceptions.
About 240 participants across the selected regions such as URR-Basse, CRR-Janjanbureh & Wassu, NBR-Kerewan, LRR-Mansankonko, and WCR-Brikama, benefited from these training sessions.
The draft constitution has been debated and criticized by many commentators, especially on the issue of term limits.
But as the country embarks on this journey, Ansumana Ceesay, the Program Manager for NCCE encouraged Gambian citizens to approach the ongoing dialogue with an open mind.
“We need collaborative spirit and a deep sense of commitment to the communities we serve,” he says in Kerewan, in the North Bank Region.
He went on to add how the development of a new constitution became a significant undertaking that requires broad-based participation and inclusivity.
Despite the initial setback of the 2020 draft Constitution Bill being rejected by the National Assembly, Ceesay stated how the government has revived the constitutional building process and has subsequently gazetted a Revised Draft Constitution Bill for eventual tabling in parliament.
According to him, strengthening public engagement and awareness about the importance of constitutional reform is crucial for garnering support and building consensus around the reform agenda.
“Your role as trainers is not only to inform but also to listen, to foster conversations, and to ensure that every voice in our communities especially the most marginalized is heard in this pivotal moment,” he says.
“Our collective goal is to create an informed citizenry capable of engaging constructively in this process, ensuring that the draft constitution is well understood and that people feel empowered to express their views on it.”
“I want to emphasize the importance of your roles. You are not just trainers, you are the bridge between policymakers and the communities, ensuring that the dialogue around the draft constitution is inclusive, transparent, and participatory,” he emphasized.
Speaking on behalf of the NBR governor, Demba Samateh, the deputy governor, reminded citizens that the constitution is not a political document but instead, it is a national law document.
Before, he added: “We used to have a system that just needed laws, then bring to people without any scrutiny. And coming here to engage regional areas makes it significant for us. This is the beauty of democracy.”
He further talked about the significance of participation in the draft constitution building process, while encouraging active engagement during the discussions
For her part, Jonsaba Jawara, vice-president for a rice farmers association in Kerewan, asked her community members not to view this dialogue as politics, but rather to see it as a step towards having a constitution that would benefit them and their communities.
Fabala Kinteh, chief of the district, urged his people to listen attentively and actively participate in the discussion for the sake of their communities.
