National Assembly Of The Gambia

13/08/2026

Hon. Fatou K. Jawara Seconds Motion on Governance, Peace and Security at 55th CPA Africa Region Conference

Hon. Fatou K. Jawara, has called on African parliaments to treat governance, peace and security as a single, indivisible agenda in the face of mounting political, economic and technological disruptions.

Seconding the motion on Governance, Peace and Security at the 55th CPA Africa Region Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi, Hon. Jawara said Africa's parliaments are operating inside three overlapping storms contested political transitions, fiscal distress, and the rapid spread of digital disinformation that together threaten institutional resilience. "Where governance falters, peace is postponed; where peace is postponed, security is borrowed against the future," she said.

Hon. Jawara argued that public confidence in elected institutions has been shaken by the perception that parliaments serve incumbency rather than citizens, and that the power of the purse, parliament's oldest privilege is being tested at a time when fiscal space has all but disappeared.

Drawing on The Gambia's own transition from authoritarian rule, she said resilience is not built in moments of crisis but through ordinary sessions and unglamorous committee work long before disruption becomes visible.

She urged the CPA Africa Region to use its convening power, peer review, benchmarks, and the Parliamentary Academy, to strengthen parliaments collectively, rather than allowing each legislature to improvise resilience in isolation.

The conference, themed "Renewing the Social Contract: Parliaments as Catalysts for Inclusive Growth and Citizen Trust," brought together parliamentary leaders from across the continent.

13/08/2026

The Clerk of the National Assembly Mr. Khalipha M. M. Mbaye, has engaged Clerks and Parliamentary staff on the need to enhance parliamentary democracy through citizen engagement during the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table (SoCATT) Learning and Sharing Workshop, held on the sidelines of the 55th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi.

The workshop brought together clerks and parliamentary staff from across the CPA Africa Region to exchange ideas, share best practices, and learn from one another's institutional experiences in parliamentary administration.

His presentation highlighted The Gambia's journey in strengthening parliamentary administration and advancing institutional reform, offering insights that fellow delegates could draw upon in their own legislative contexts.

The session formed part of the broader conference programme, which brought together parliamentary leaders, clerks, and delegates from across the continent to deliberate on issues of governance, resilience, and institutional cooperation.

12/08/2026

Clerk Joins Continental Peers for SoCATT Africa Strategic Meetings in Malawi

The Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Khalipha MM Mbaye, has participated in the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table (SoCATT) Africa Steering Committee meeting on Wednesday to deliberate on critical institutional reforms. Mr. Mbaye participated in the meeting in his dual capacity as Clerk and Chairperson of the SoCATT Journal Editorial Board.

The meeting is being held on the sidelines of the 55th Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Africa Region Conference, a high-level gathering of parliamentary administrators aimed at strengthening legislative governance across the continent.

Key items on the agenda included a comprehensive review of the SoCATT Africa Rules, an audit of the organization’s budget and financial reports, and the development of a strategic roadmap for 2027–2031. This blueprint is designed to modernize parliamentary administration and enhance cooperation among CPA African member states.

Mr. Mbaye’s leadership role will continue on Thursday during the SoCATT learning and sharing workshop. He is slated to present a featured paper titled ‘Parliaments and Citizen Engagement,’ offering insights into how legislative bodies can bridge the gap with constituents and ensure parliamentary processes remain transparent, inclusive, and accessible.

12/08/2026

The Speaker and Chairperson of the CPA Africa Region Executive Committee, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta, has called on African parliaments to serve as catalysts for inclusive growth and citizen trust.

Speaking at the opening of the 55th CPA Africa Region Conference in Lilongwe, Malawi Hon. Jatta, said the bond between the citizens and the government is being tested across the continent, with citizens increasingly questioning whether democratic frameworks translate into tangible improvements in their lives.

"When economic growth fails to be inclusive, and when the chasm between the privileged and the marginalized widens, the very foundation of trust that sustains our democratic institutions begins to erode," he said.

He described parliaments as the primary engines of inclusivity and custodians the public interest, urging that national budgets be treated not merely as balance sheets but as moral blueprints prioritizing healthcare, education, and digital equity.

Hon. Jatta also stressed the need for rigorous oversight, saying trust is earned through transparency and accountability whilst urging parliaments to embrace the open parliament model to ensure citizens in remote areas have the same access to legislative proceedings as those in capital cities.

11/08/2026

Speaker Jatta chairs 91 CPA Africa Region Exco Meeting

The Hon. Speaker, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, who doubles as the Chairperson of the CPA Africa Region Executive Committee today presided over the 91 EXCO Meeting of the CPA Africa Region in Lilongwe, Malawi, ahead of the 55th CPA Africa Region Conference.

The meeting brought together executive committee members from various African parliaments to deliberate on critical regional parliamentary issues, foster inter-parliamentary cooperation, and review the progress of ongoing initiatives.

07/08/2026

Clerk Joins African Legislative Leaders in Accra for Parliamentary Modernization Workshop

The Clerk of the National Assembly, Mr. Kalipha MM Mbye has participated in a high-level regional workshop focused on the modernisation of Parliaments. The workshop hosted by the Parliament of Ghana was organised by the House Democracy Partnership (HDP), a bipartisan commission of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The workshop brought together Clerks, Directors, and senior parliamentary officials from across the continent to share best practices for enhancing the efficiency, transparency, and digital capacity of modern legislatures.

Speaking on the sidelines of the opening session in Accra, the Clerk emphasised that the modernisation of the National Assembly remains a top priority. "As we face an increasingly digital world, our Parliament must evolve. We are here to look at innovative ways to integrate technology into our committee systems, Hansard production, and citizen engagement platforms," he stated.

06/08/2026

Moroccan Ambassador Bids Farewell to Speaker Jatta

The Moroccan Head of Mission in The Gambia Ambassador Ahmed Belhadj today paid a farewell visit to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Hon. Fabakary Tombong Jatta,

During the Courtesy Call Speaker Jatta highlighted the importance of the bilateral relationship between The Gambia and The Kingdom of Morocco and praised the Ambassador for his work and support to the National Assembly.

Ambassador Belhadj expressed gratitude to the Honorable Speaker and the National Assembly for the support during his time in office. He also hopes that the strong ties between Morocco and The Gambia would continue to grow.

05/08/2026

SPEAKER OF LESOTHO PARLIAMENT ENGAGES THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE GAMBIA

A high-level parliamentary delegation from the Kingdom of Lesotho, led by the Honourable Speaker, Mr. Tlohang Sekhamane, paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the National Assembly, Honourable Fabakary Tombong Jatta, as part of a study tour on Government Development Financing.

The Honourable Speaker Fabakary Tombong Jatta welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for the visit, noting that it strengthens parliamentary diplomacy and cooperation between the two legislatures.

The Honourable Speaker of the National Assembly of Lesotho, Mr. Tlohang Sekhamane, thanked the Speaker for the warm reception and shared the purpose of their visit which is to learn from The Gambia's experience in implementing Government Development Financing through the Programme for Accelerated Community Development (PACD).

Following the courtesy call, the Lesotho delegation held a technical session with the Honourable Members of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC) chaired by Hon. Alhagie S. Darbo, Member for Brikama North and Minority Leader.

The session focused on the legislature's role in ensuring accountability, transparency, and value for money in the use of public resources.

Discussions covered the constitutional mandate of the National Assembly in budget scrutiny and approval, the oversight functions of the Finance and Public Accounts Committee, monitoring government expenditure and public financial management.

The Chairperson of Lesotho's Parliamentary Committee on Sustainable Development Goals Hon. Itumeleng Rantsho, shared insights on their parliamentary committee structures and approaches to monitoring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Both delegations expressed commitment to strengthening collaboration between the National Assemblies of The Gambia and the Kingdom of Lesotho.

UNDP The Gambia
Parliament of Lesotho

03/08/2026

03/08/2026

The Select Committee on Trade and Regional Integration of the National Assembly, in collaboration with The Gambia Investment and Export Promotion Agency (GIEPA), concluded a four-day joint industrial site visit and post-visit review session jointly organized by the Ministry of Trade, Regional Integration and Employment and GIEPA.

The oversight visit aims to strengthen parliamentary oversight of the country's industrial development agenda. During the visit the Committee visited selected industrial sites including the Gambia Milling Corporation, the SMG Dry Port along Bond Road, and the Negmar Ferry Terminal and Special Economic Zone (SEZ) initiatives across the Greater Banjul Area, West Coast Region, and Lower River Region.

These site inspections provided the Committee with valuable insights into operational realities and infrastructural conditions at key economic hubs.