President, Gambia Bar Association
Nenneh MC Cham, President Gambia Bar Association
By Fatou Sillah
The President of the Gambia Bar Association (GBA), Neneh MC Cham, has emphasized the need for legal professionals to represent clients regardless of their grievances against the government without being unfairly labeled as anti-government.
“Our members must be able to represent their clients, including those with grievances against the government, without getting labeled as being against the government. As had been the case in the previous dispensation. In the past year, the GBA continued to advocate for legal reforms, starting with a new constitution of the Republic of the Gambia,” she said.
She announced that the GBA is nearing the launch of its legal aid program and called for the swift passage of the Judicial Officers Remuneration Bill 2024 to ensure fair compensation for judges. According to her, adequate remuneration would allow judges to carry out their duties independently and impartially. Additionally, she urged the government to enhance the security of judges and to revive the long-inactive Law Reform Commission to address necessary legal reforms.
Cham also acknowledged the government’s commitment to accountability, particularly through the soon-to-be-established Anti-Corruption Commission.
“We look forward to the recruitment of independent, credible, competent, and objective individuals to carry out this all-important task. The Access to Information Commission has also been constituted,” she said.
The GBA President further urged the Ministry of Justice to accelerate the process of repealing outdated laws, some of which were deemed unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 2018 but remain in the legal framework.
“We humbly urge the Ministry to pick up the process. It has been several years since several provisions of our statute books were recommended for repeal. Some criminal offenses restricting freedom of expression were struck down by the Supreme Court of The Gambia in May 2018 for reasons that they are, I quote, unreasonable, unnecessary, and unjustified in a democratic society, and are therefore inconsistent with provisions of the Constitution guaranteeing the right,” she said.
Cham also questioned the status of the Criminal Offences Bill of 2019, which was reviewed and validated years ago but has yet to be enacted.
“However, these offenses are still in the Criminal Code, which is still in force. Whatever happened to the Criminal Offences Bill of 2019, which was reviewed and validated several years ago?” she asked.
Concluding her remarks, Cham underscored the importance of constructive criticism in governance, stating that the GBA plays a vital role in voicing public concerns.
“Mr Chairman, the Bar Association often represents public concerns. Constructive criticism, as I said, helps the government identify and address the issues because this feedback is very important to guide government in improving public services, particularly those related to the legal and justice sectors,” she said.