By Tabora Bojang
The Minister of Justice yesterday informed the National Assembly that the current policy position of The Gambia Government is to abolish the death penalty in the law books.
Minister Jallow was responding to a question from the Member for Old Yundum Abdoulie Ceesay who sought clarification on whether the government is considering the full and final abolition of the law.
According to Hon Ceesay, abolition of the death penalty would represent a decisive step toward safeguarding the sanctity of life, strengthening the Gambian justice system, and reinforcing the country’s reputation as a human rights‐respecting democracy.
In response, Justice Minister Jallow agreed, and revealed that government has taken efforts towards abolishment including the tabling of the Revised Criminal Code Procedure and reforming the Penal Code.
Asked how long the current moratorium on the death penalty will stay, Minister Jallow said a moratorium is a policy decision put in place until at such time the executive that puts it in place decided to change its mind.
The government has since 2017 placed a moratorium on the death penalty but with the recent spate of homicide cases in the country, there have been calls for the government to remove the moratorium and carry out the death penalty.