By Lamin Njie
Ecowas on Tuesday vowed to stand by Gambians in ensuring a new constitution is realised to serve as a basis for development.
Ecowas commission president Jean Claude Kassi Brou met President Adama Barrow at State House on Tuesday as part of an official trip to the country.
The Barrow administration since taking office in 2017 has pledged to oversee reforms among them a new constitution but the voting down of the draft constitution by lawmakers loyal to President Barrow in September has seen critics question the sincerity of the president and his government with regard to a new constitution. The pesident turning away foreign diplomats who made a last-minute effort to speak to him to prevail on the rebelling MPs only compounded matters.
Ecowas through its commission president said the bloc will support the country in getting a new constitution.
“It’s a very important reform project. We were informed about the recent evolution in the National Assembly but also step that have been taken by the authorities to really make sure that this project is ongoing. Ecowas of course is very keen in supporting, working and accompanying the authorities because a new constitution that is really broad based, that is supported by the majority of the Gambians will be really a very important basis to support social, political and economic human development.
“So we can only stand by the Gambian, behind the government and authorities to continue to work together and reach out to the maximum… We understand the process that has been taken to make sure that this project continues and Ecowas will support the country and support the authorities,” the Ecowas commission boss told reporters at the State House on Tuesday.
