Parliamentary News
Askanwi reporters publish news and featured articles on Parliamentary proceedings. Askanwi is the home of the Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter.
“We need this bill, for God’s sake.” With those impassioned words, Hon. Momodou Lamin B. Bah reignited calls to scrap The Gambia’s century-old Lunatic Detention Act—an outdated law that continues to undermine the rights and dignity of people with mental illness. More in this report.
Despite assurances from the newly appointed Minister for Communications and Digital Economy, Hon. Lamin Jabbie, that Gamcel staff salaries have been restored to normal, concerns persist over unresolved grievances outlined in a staff petition. More in this parliamentary report.
Despite multiple attempts by NAMs to reintroduce Clause 14, which mandates the registration of diaspora voters, the effort has been blocked by Deputy Speaker Hon. Seedy S. Njie and the Majority Caucus. This impasse has stalled parliamentary proceedings, preventing progress beyond seven clauses by 13:00 hrs. More in the report.
Gambian CSO leaders urged Parliamentarians to restore the deleted Clause 14 in the Elections Bill to register Gambians living abroad to vote in the 2026 Presidential Elections. More in the report.
The return of the Kanilai Ferry has been delayed again, now expected in April due to shipping issues. Transport Minister Ebrima Sillah’s announcement disappointed many, including NAM Omar Darboe, who had hoped for its commissioning before Koriteh. More in the report.
Parliamentarians failed to complete the consideration stage of 26 clauses in the National Security Council (NSC) Bill on 18th March 2025, as lengthy deliberations and disagreements over key provisions prolonged the debate. More in the Parliamentary report.
Parliamentarians were scheduled to address three separate actions, including a report from the Finance Minister on the implementation and monitoring of the annual budget; however, only the National Security Council Bill 2023 is being considered today. More in the report.
President Adama Barrow will give an early State of the Nation Address for 2025, just a week before the Second Reading of the 2024 Draft Constitution in Parliament. The address highlights the government’s focus on governance and constitutional reform. More in the report.
African Clerks from the Society of Commonwealth Clerks held a meeting in The Gambia to exchange insights on strategizing the future of legislative administration in Africa. More in this news report.
Feature Publications
The Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter is an initiative focusing on the Gambia’s National Assembly proceedings. Download free electronic copies online on the Askanwi Parliament page.
The aftermath of Parliamentarians vote to remove clause 14 to register Gambians abroad has been met with significant public outcry. This has prompted our reporter to dig up a previously unpublished article featuring a meeting between the National Assembly’s joint committee and Gambians in the Diaspora spearheaded by MSDG. More in the link.
This publication interrogates the question of whether Parliament and the Executive have violated the law with regards to budget implementation by making reference to legal provisions and highlighting instances when this legal requirement has been ignored. This leaves the door open for waste, fraud, and abuse to continue unabated in The Gambia.
Last week, a notice from the Gambia National Assembly’s Office of the Clerk addressed to Parliamentarians highlighted that finances for the 2024 Constituency Development Fund would not be disbursed. Our reporter managed to contact the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Clerk on the issue and also featured reactions from Parliamentarians on the cancellation. More in this feature report.
This publication reveals how Parliamentarians deducted over D740 million from the Draft 2025 Appropriation Bill and distributed the same amount on the Approved 2025 Appropriation Bill. Our calculations and research make use of Parliament’s report recommending cuts and additions. More in the report.
This FactCheck interrogates a misleading headline by a leading newspaper, Foroyaa, claiming that Hon. Njai won a case against the PPP and it’s leadership. After getting hold of the judgment, our reporters brought out the facts and highlighted that the headline was indeed misleading. More in the report.
Four Gambian Civil Society Advocates have filed a lawsuit against the state in the Supreme Court against the Finance Minister’s alleged failure to table the 2025 budget as mandated by the amended 1997 Constitution today, 19th December 2024.
This opinion piece delves into the government’s plans to increase taxes by 23% in 2025 and interrogates the National Assembly’s role in reviewing the Government’s Revenue Measures. Will Parliament debate this important issue, which will impact the cost of living next year?
Information received by Askanwi Media highlights that the Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs (MoFEA) will table the 2025 Draft Budget tomorrow 15th November requesting Parliamentary approval for over D52.9 Billion in expenditure.
Our monitoring of Parliament has revealed that the Finance Minister may have failed to comply with the Amended provision 152 (1) to table the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure sixty (60) days before the end of the year which was the last day of October 2024. Parliament is also failing its role to monitor the implementation of the 2024 Budget since the First Ordinary Session.
In July 2024, two of the country’s leading newspapers reported or published articles stating that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) rejected a partnership to establish a special tribunal in The Gambia to try perpetrators identified in the Truth, Reparations and Reconciliation Commission (TRRC).
The headlines are MISLEADING.

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Videos
Hon Njai of Banjul Central Responds to Concerns on Draft Constitution
The National Assembly Member for Banjul Central Hon Abdoulie Njai held a Constituency Dialogue with his electorates on Friday 16th August 2024 organized by Activista the Gambia. Watch the question and response on the Draft Constitution.


Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter
The Gambia Parliamentary Newsletter is an initiative focusing on the Gambia’s National Assembly proceedings. Download free electronic copies online on the Askanwi Parliament page.
Coming soon…
The National Audit Office (NAO) has officially launched its Strategic Development Plan 2025–2029, outlining a bold vision to strengthen governance, enhance public financial management, and promote greater transparency across the public sector. More in the report.