By Adama Makasuba
Mama Kandeh, the leader of the opposition Gambia Democratic Congress, has warned that President Adama Barrow will continue to seek re-election if the country’s constitution does not provide for term limits.
Mr. Kandeh made these remarks during a recent news conference addressing significant national issues. He expressed disappointment over Parliament’s failure to pass the draft constitution. He urged opposing parties to negotiate a compromise regarding Barrow’s first term to ensure that term limits are enshrined in law.
“In all fairness, if we were in Barrow’s position, we would agree that our first term should fall under the term limits. At that time, the Constitution did not impose any term limits. The Constitution could have been passed, thus eliminating his first five years. We continuously declare ‘no third term for Barrow,’ but Barrow will seek a third term if Gambians do not adopt a new constitution that includes term limits. If it were up to us, the Constitution would have already been enacted,” he stated.
He also criticized the government’s expenditure on independence celebrations, stating, “I don’t have time to celebrate independence because the millions we spend on it, while we are not truly independent but rather dependent, is a waste of resources. Those millions could be allocated more effectively in other areas to benefit the country and its citizens.”
