By Ramatoulie Jawo
Hon. Hamat NK Bah, the Minister of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs, informed the National Assembly Members on Wednesday that there has not been a Paramount Chief appointed in The Gambia since 2017.
Hon. Bah made this statement during a question-and-answer session at the National Assembly while responding to a query from Hon. Alhagie S. Darboe, the National Assembly Member for Brikama North.
Hon. Darboe asked the Lands Minister to provide information about the country’s Paramount Chief.
“Hon. Speaker, could the Hon. Minister for Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs tell this August Assembly who is the current Paramount Chief of The Gambia, when was he appointed and if no such appointment occurred, why so?” Hon. Darboe asked.
“There is no Paramount Chief appointed under this dispensation,” Hon. Hamat told the Lawmakers.
In a follow-up question, Hon. Lamin J. Sanneh, the National Assembly Member for Brikama South Constituency, asked why the government has not appointed a Paramount Chief since 2017, as provided by the Constitution.
“If you look at the Local Government Act, Section 131(B), which says there shall be a Paramount Chief in The Gambia who shall be appointed by the President from among the Seyfos in The Gambia, why from 2017 to date has the government not appointed a Paramount Chief?” Hon. Sanneh asked.
“Mr. Speaker, I want to inform the Honorable Member that I will bring it forward to the President, who is responsible for this appointment, and bring it to his attention. Because I know it is a provision in the law,” the Lands Minister said.
Hon. Lamin Ceesay, the National Assembly Member for Kiang West, emphasized that the law was established in parliament and that numerous appointments have been made by the President. He asked the Lands Minister to explain why the Gambian President has not appointed a Paramount Chief since 2017.
After this question, Hon. Kebba Lang Fofana, a nominated member, raised a point of order, and the question was ruled out by the Speaker of the National Assembly.
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