By Tabora Bojang
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice has disclosed that government intends to draw from relevant provisions of the 2020 draft constitution, to develop appropriate legislation to regulate the transition from an outgoing president to a president-elect.
According to the minister, there is presently no dedicated legislation governing the protection of a president-elect and the transitional arrangements between the declaration of the presidential election results and the assumption of office.
He said in light of the experience of the 2016-2017 presidential transition, government recognises the need for a clearer legal framework in this area.
“The idea is to draw from relevant provisions of the 2020 Draft Constitution to develop appropriate legislation to regulate the transition from an outgoing president to a president-elect. Such legislation will among other matters provide greater clarity on the security and other arrangements applicable to a president-elect before assuming office,” Minister Jallow said. He was responding to lawmakers who wanted to know whether the government has in place a legal framework for the protection and secure assumption of office of a president-elect.
The minister further explained that pending the enactment of the proposed legislation, the necessary security arrangements for a president-elect may therefore be provided within the existing constitutional and statutory mandate of the Gambia Police Force.
“So the proposed legislation would provide a more specific framework for these arrangements and address present gaps in the law,” he added.