By Kebba AF Touray
The National Assembly on Monday, September 29, 2025, passed five major bills, including the Elections Bill, the Medicine and Related Products Bill, the Judicial Officers (Conditions of Service) Bill, the Personal Data Protection and Privacy Bill, and the National Security Council Bill.
The bills were adopted after completing their third readings, following all required parliamentary stages.
The Medicine and Related Products Bill, introduced by Hon. Amadou Camara of Nianija on June 26, 2025, aims to address gaps in the 2014 Act relating to the registration of medical commodities. Camara said, “For instance, the United Kingdom harbors a population of over 67 million people, while the regional counterparts Nigeria, have over 223 million, Gambia is over 34 million, Senegal 17.5 million, Sierra Leone is above 8.7 million, and Liberia 5.4 million.” He noted that The Gambia’s population, “slightly below 3 million, is clear one face value the revenue for any manufacture for or import to a small economy such as the Gambia, for such products is objectionable.” He lamented, “Consequently, manufacturers are hesitant to submit themselves to the rigors of the tedious registration process.”
The Elections Bill, introduced by Attorney General and Justice Minister Dawda Jallow, seeks to repeal the existing Elections Act and replace it with a new one in line with international best practices. The minister said the goal was “to achieve the cardinal principles of a free and fair election in The Gambia.”
Jallow also tabled the Judicial Officers (Conditions of Service) Bill on July 11, 2025, explaining that it was designed “to support the independence of the judiciary, as well as ensure conditions of service, including fair and protected remuneration.” He added that the bill seeks to give effect to Section 120(3) of the Constitution, which states: “the judiciary shall be independent and shall be subject only to this Constitution and the law.”
The Personal Data Protection and Privacy Bill was introduced by Information Minister Ismaila Ceesay on December 6, 2024. He explained that the bill “seeks to enhance substantial provisions with respect to Data Protection and Privacy and to establish the basic principles underlying the lawful processing of data, the rights of data subjects, the legal obligations of controllers and processors, trans-border data flows.”
The National Security Council Bill was introduced on behalf of Vice President Muhammed B.S. Jallow. Minister Jallow tabled it on June 24, 2024, noting that it “seeks to promote the effective and efficient coordination of the security of the Gambia, as a critically important factor for security sector reform.” He added that the bill also aims “to position the Gambia strategically in its geopolitical path for her best security, and development interests as articulated in the National Development Plan (NDP).”
