By Assan Bah
The United Democratic Party (UDP) has reiterated its opposition to the 2024 draft constitution, with its leader, A.N.M. Ousainu Darboe, calling for the revival of the 2020 draft, which was previously rejected by Parliament.
Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Darboe criticized the 2024 draft for lacking broad public consultation, arguing that the earlier version was more representative of the Gambian people’s aspirations.
“We would rather go with the 2020 draft than the 2024 draft because the former involved a fair and inclusive consultation process, unlike the latter, which was crafted by the president and his cabinet without first being presented to the Gambian people,” Darboe said.
The 2020 draft constitution, which was meant to replace the 1997 constitution, was blocked by the National Assembly in 2020, with some legal experts arguing that it cannot be revived. However, Darboe insists it is not dead and can still be reintroduced.
“What stops the president from adopting the people’s draft?” he asked, urging President Adama Barrow’s administration to re-table the 2020 draft and persuade lawmakers to pass it.
Darboe also took issue with provisions in the 2024 draft, particularly the proposed expansion of nominated seats in the National Assembly. The draft seeks to increase the number of presidentially appointed members to nine and grants the president the power to dismiss them—a move Darboe sees as an attack on the separation of powers.
“Instead of moving away from the nomination system, the 2024 draft expands it. Is that not executive interference in the legislature?” he questioned.
Another major concern for Darboe is the removal of Chapter 5, which focused on leadership and integrity. Under the 2024 draft, he said, government officials would no longer be required to declare their assets after leaving office, undermining efforts to combat corruption.
“The 1997 constitution at least requires the president and cabinet ministers to declare their assets upon leaving office. Why remove that provision?” he asked.
When asked how he believes the 2020 draft could be revived, Darboe pointed to political will.
“The government spent 116 million dalasis on the 2020 draft. I will not allow it to die. I will bring it back to the National Assembly and urge all UDP members to vote in support of it,” he vowed.
The fate of the 2024 draft remains uncertain, with some experts predicting it may face the same fate as its predecessor. The UDP, which holds at least 15 seats in the National Assembly, could play a decisive role in whether the draft survives.
In 2016, President Adama Barrow promised to deliver a new constitution, but that pledge remains unfulfilled. Now, with UDP opposition and a high threshold for passage, his government’s latest attempt at constitutional reform appears increasingly uncertain.
