The Gambia For All (GFA) party has condemned what it describes as an attempt by the government to undermine the voting rights of Gambians living abroad, despite a Supreme Court ruling affirming their eligibility.
In a statement, GFA recalled that on January 27, 2021, the country’s highest court upheld Section 39 of the 1997 Constitution, which grants Gambians in the diaspora the right to register and vote in national elections. The case was led by Hon. Bakary Bunja Dabo and other diaspora activists to push for the recognition of these rights.
The party criticized the government’s reluctance to implement the ruling, accusing it of using political tactics to stall the process. It argued that while the diaspora contributes significantly to the country’s economy, their political rights are being disregarded.
GFA accused the administration of President Adama Barrow of collaborating with certain National Assembly members to nullify the court’s decision, calling it a betrayal of democratic principles. It warned that failing to uphold the ruling would undermine the democratic progress achieved since 2016.
The party urged Gambians to resist any attempts to roll back hard-won democratic gains and called on the government to respect the rights of its citizens abroad.
