By Nelson Manneh
Afrobarometer Round 10 data released last week Friday, 23rd August 2024, states that the majority of Gambians are interested and in strong support of a new Constitution, yet concerns persist over the commitment of political parties to the process.
The data, which sheds light on citizens’ perspectives on democracy and governance in The Gambia, was presented during an event that drew policymakers, civil society organizations, academics, and the public.
Mr Sait Matty Jaw, Executive Director of the Centre for Research and Policy Development, unveiled the findings, noting that while the majority of Gambians see the need for a new Constitution, many question whether political parties are genuinely dedicated to achieving this goal.
“Two-thirds of Gambians believe the rejected 2020 Constitution should be reintroduced to the National Assembly for amendment,” Jaw stated. “More than half of the population believes the National Assembly was wrong to reject the 2020 draft Constitution.”
The survey, conducted in April-May 2024, reveals that 71% of Gambians support the creation of a new Constitution, with 86% favoring the introduction of presidential term limits—an amendment absent in the current 1997 Constitution.
Despite these strong public sentiments, the survey found that only minorities believe that the ruling National People’s Party (29%) and the opposition United Democratic Party (34%) are committed to delivering a new Constitution. Jaw also highlighted the government’s recent announcement on August 14, 2024, regarding the gazetting of The Gambia’s 2024 Constitution, seen as a renewed commitment to the constitutional process.
Afrobarometer, a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network, has been capturing and analyzing African experiences and evaluations of democracy and governance since 1999. In The Gambia, the Round 10 survey was conducted by the Center for Research and Policy Development, involving face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult Gambians in their preferred languages.
The data points to a clear demand from Gambians for constitutional reform, but the question remains whether political leaders will heed to this call.
