News, Politics

Updated: Gambia Scraps Age Limit For President

Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang

(JollofNews) – The Gambia’s National Assembly Tuesday unanimously voted in favour of a government resolution removing the constitutional age limit for the offices of President and Vice President.

The bill which was introduced by the new coalition government, will now pave the way for the appointment of Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang as the country’s vice president.

Ms Tambajang, 67, who played an important role in the formation of the opposition coalition that defeated former President Yahya Jammeh in last year’s election, was rewarded with the top job by the country’s new president, Adama Barrow.

However, her appointment was in breach of section 62 (b), which bars anyone older than 65 from becoming president or vice president of the Gambia.

Since the national constitution was written in 1996, the age limit to run for the Gambian presidency has been capped at 65 years.

5 Comments

  1. I applaud both the National Assembly and the Executive for working together to reach a solution. This is a triumph for democracy. The President had listened to Gambians and had sort the cooperation of the National Assembly to amend the law. Gambians would like to see more of this in the future to develop and strengthen our democracy further.

  2. Jah Saidy, Mariam

    Glad that Mrs. Tambajang ‘s appointment was upheld. It is well known in the Gambia that ageism, sexism and chauvinism rain supreme. The Gambian dominant culture and traditions perpetuate and contribute to the oppression and suppression of women.

  3. Eva, Mbucha, Penda Chorro Sarr

    is there any news on the opposition party’s? What is happening with Hon Sidia Jatta
    and Hon Halifa Sallah?

  4. Eva, PDOIS including Halifa Sallah and Sidia Jatta are part of the coalition government. They may not be in the executive but that does not and cannot diminish their influence in shaping our democracy. I am guessing that they want to be in the legislative branch of the state. We need strong people in the National Assembly who will make the executive accountable to the people. I can imagine Halifa as speaker of the National Assembly and Sidia as majority leader. They will be a very formidable team. That will strengthen democracy in the Gambia beyond our wildest imagination because the executive will think hard before putting any bill before the house.

  5. BUBA SANYANG,
    Have you read this posting from FREEDOM, a clear manifestatuon of abuse of power and the usurpation of our constitution and laws just TO SEAT A SINGLE PERSON, Fatoumatta Jallow Tambajang? What a joke in democratic exercise!
    I’m gradually seeing the real HALIFA SALLAH! Not the bogus and inept figures like Mai Fatty, Barrow, Fatoumatta Tambajang, Hamat Bah, Omar Jallow, those incompetent elements hungry to acceed to power and plunder the resources of our country.

    Gambia: Breaking News: Gov’t Will Correct The Unconstitutional Repealing Of The Presidential Age Limit; Without Following The Dictates Of The Law-Halifa Sallah

    The Spokesman of the Transitional Government Halifa Sallah says the recent repealing of the age limit associated with the office of the president and vice president by parliament was unconstitutional and hence called on the Barrow government…
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    March 2, 2017
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    The Spokesman of the Transitional Government Halifa Sallah says the recent repealing of the age limit associated with the office of the president and vice president by parliament was unconstitutional and hence called on the Barrow government to adhere to the dictates of the 1997 constitution. Mr. Sallah, who has made his position known to the transitional leaders, said government must go back to parliament to table the bill again in the spirit of following the dictates of the constitution. Mr. Sallah told journalists at a news conference today that the amendment of the Election Act, was done in line with the dictates of the constitution, but in regards to the repealing of the age limit for the president and vice president, Sallah said the government got it all wrong.

    “When you dealing with the constitution, you cannot go by section 101. It has a section of its own in the constitution and that’s section 226. So what it says is that when you are to introduce a bill to amend the constitution prior to doing so; you must publish it in the gazette for three months for the first reading. And then publish it again nothing less than ten days; the second publication before introducing it in the national assembly. So that has been made clear after it was done. And there is absolutely no doubt that government sees eye to eye with that particular position and obviously, they will be doing the rectification. So that bill have to be returned to the national assembly for remedial actions to be made,” he said.

    Baa Tambadou, is Gambia’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice. He advice the president on issues of legal matters. He also oversees the passage of bills and amendment of the constitution.

    Mr. Tambadou was absent in parliament on Tuesday, when Interior Minister, Mai Fatty, tabled the proposed constitutional changes. Now Halifa Sallah, is telling Gambians that the recent repealing of the age limit for the office of president and vice president was done unconstitutionally. Sallah said the Barrow government has agreed to make the necessary corrections to rectify the unconstitutional act.

    Commenting on the upcoming national assembly elections, Sallah said he has been instructed by his colleagues to report to Gambians about what has been agreed upon to take part in the polls. Sallah said all the parties have agreed to sponsor independent coalition candidates in the coming polls, except the UDP and the NRP. He said the two parties believed in party sponsored candidates.

    “After lengthy deliberations, the position of the coalition is to participate in this election on the basis of independent coalition candidates, of course two parties have reservations,” Sallah noted.

    Mr. Sallah asked Gambians to continue to be proactive on issues of national importance as manifested in the past elections. He said the opposition came together largely due to public demand for an alliance. He expects the same pressure to be mounted on the opposition in order to do the right thing for the public good.

    Mr. Sallah also said candidates representing the coalition government must be electable and competent, while underscoring the importance of electing competent national assembly members. He said the transition government should endeavor to accomplish its set agenda for change. But he said, this cannot be possible if the coalition’s core mission and values, which brought the opposition together is being set aside.

    “You said Gambia has decided, well we are yet to decide the National Assembly,” Halifa said adding that the other parties should be engaged so that the opposition can win more seats in the coming elections. Once the opposition forms the majority in the house, he said, the proposed reforms and constitutional changes can be accomplished. He warns the opposition to avoid becoming the innocent victims of their own making, while stressing the need for an opposition unity to shape the affairs of the state.

    Mr. Halifa Sallah also clarified that he is not a paid adviser to president Adama Barrow. He said his services are pro-bono.

    “I am not part of the Executive. I am an adviser, but not an Executive adviser. An Executive adviser must receive pay from a government and will be driving government vehicle; given government vehicles and so forth. I am not that. An adviser cannot be with the president 24 hours; every day a week. There are government ministers and ministries who carry out their functions,” he said.

    Written By Pa Nderry M’Bai

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