By Sarjo Brito
Following weeks of commentary from politicians and civil society organizations, the Gambia Christian Council, at a press conference on Tuesday, shared their position on the rejection of the 2020 draft constitution. For a community that still feels marginalised, the Christian Council say they were concerned by some of the provisions in the draft constitution and could not support it in its final format. Even after raising their concerns, the council say their feedback regarding the vital document fell on deaf ears.
“We believe that our plight in key public policy matter continue to be somewhat an afterthought, if at all considered,” the council’s Bishop Yaw Odico said in a statement on Tuesday.
Citing some provisions like section 36, section 43(9) among others, the council say it is clear the draft constitution 2020 did not sufficiently protect the religious rights of the Christian community.
‘’As Christians, our hope for our motherland is that we will build a Gambia where there is a place for every Gambian irrespective of his or her belief. Our desire is that any new constitution would safeguard the future of all Gambians and protect the rights of all citizens,” Biship Yaw Odico said.
