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By Omar Bah
A recent survey conducted by Afrobarometer reveals that 65 percent of Gambians disapprove of the performance of National Assembly Members. This discontent primarily arises from their rejection of a new constitution to strengthen democracy.
The 2020 Constitution Promulgation Bill, which proposed term limits and checks on executive power, was defeated by lawmakers. Many were aligned with President Barrow and opposed any provisions that could constrain his presidency. This disconnect between parliament’s actions and public sentiment—where a significant majority supported the proposed changes—has further fueled dissatisfaction with elected representatives.
Moreover, historical issues of executive overreach and a lack of accountability contribute to this growing discontent. Members of the Sixth Legislature’s decision to allocate themselves a one-off clothing allowance of D100,000 in 2022 faced considerable backlash from the public. Lawmakers also drew heavy criticism for accepting parados, which amounted to over D3 million, amid the country’s economic challenges.
A report recently shared with journalists indicates that most Gambians (65%) and local government councilors (60%) disapprove of how parliament members and councilors have performed their duties over the past year.
Afrobarometer is a pan-African, nonpartisan research network that provides reliable data on the experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life across Africa. It ensures that the African public has a voice in policy and decision-making processes and has completed nine survey rounds in up to 42 countries.
Download the full report here.
