By Fatou Sillah
Mama Kandeh, the Secretary General and leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), has stated that if he or any other political figure were in President Adama Barrow’s position, they would not have accepted the retroactive clause in the 2020 draft constitution.
Speaking at a press conference in Kombo Kiti on Tuesday, Kandeh emphasized that the primary issue in the draft constitution was the provision that would count Barrow’s first five years in office toward the proposed term limits. He argued that since the constitution in place when Barrow assumed office did not include term limits, it would be unfair to retroactively apply them.
“In all fairness, if we are to be truthful, none of us would have accepted such a provision if we were in President Barrow’s position. The constitution that existed when he took office did not have term limits, and the new draft should only take effect once it has been approved by a referendum and enacted into law,” Kandeh stated.
He further suggested that the best approach would have been to pass the draft constitution while excluding Barrow’s first five years from the term count, allowing the new law to apply only to the subsequent five years.
“We should have passed the draft constitution, removed the first five years that Barrow served, and allowed the new constitution to apply moving forward. That would mean he would have only one term remaining, and his re-election would depend on the will of Gambians. Right now, we do not have a constitution that enforces term limits, so what can I or other political leaders, including Ousainou Darboe, do?” Kandeh remarked.
He also addressed concerns about President Barrow potentially seeking a third term, stating that such an outcome would ultimately depend on voters.
“People are saying no to a third term for Barrow, but that can only happen if Gambians refuse to vote for him. If it were solely up to us, the 2020 draft constitution would have already been passed,” he asserted.
Kandeh concluded by expressing confidence that The Gambia would have a new constitution if he were elected president.
“I am certain that The Gambia will have a new constitution, but only when Mama Kandeh is in the State House. Before that, I do not believe they will pass the draft constitution,” he declared.