By Musa Saho
The Ministry of Justice with support from USAID Democracy International, and The Gambia Bar Association, has recently gathered stakeholders to validate the Special Prosecutor’s Office Bill (SPA) and Special Accountability Mechanism Bill (SAM)
In his remarks, at the opening of the workshop, held at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Honorable Dawda A. Jallow affirmed government’s commitment to ensuring justice and accountability – leading to the drafting of the SPA and SAM Bills. These legislative pieces, he said, provide the legal framework needed to operationalise the accountability mechanism.
He informed that the government has secured collaboration with ECOWAS to establish a hybrid tribunal, describing it as a testament to his office’s determination to work collaboratively, both domestically and regionally, to ensure that justice is served and that accountability is upheld.
“The political will of the government is not just a promise, it is a commitment etched in the steps taken to ensure justice and accountability. Our goal is not only about holding perpetrators accountable but also about making victims whole again,’’ the Attorney General said.
The President of The Gambia Bar Association, Mr. Salieu Taal, acknowledged the participatory and inclusive approach of the ministry in drafting the SOP and SAM bills.
For his part, the Representative of Democracy International, Mr. Aaron Myers reiterated his office’s unwavering support for accountability concerning post-TRRC crimes and institutional reforms.
Principal State Counsel Ella R.Dougan delivered the closing remarks on behalf of the Solicitor General. She expressed gratitude to all the participants for spending their valuable time scrutinising, analysing, and discussing the two Bills, recognising their significant impact on the legal landscape of The Gambia.
The workshop was attended by the staff of the Ministry of Justice, representatives of Democracy International, The Gambia Bar Association, Carter Centre, and stakeholders from different Civil Society Organisations working on transitional justice issues in The Gambia.
