By Omar Bah
The National Assembly Member for Foñi Kansala has vowed to campaign against the new draft constitution unless the government properly explains the clause dealing with marriage.
The government is planning to send the draft constitution, which was controversially rejected by mainly National Assembly Members loyal to President Adama Barrow, to a referendum later this year.
On the issue of marriage, the New Constitution states that a man and a woman of full age and capacity have the right to marry and find a family, and such marriage shall be based on the free and full consent of the man and the woman, while the 1997 Constitution states that men and women of full age and capacity shall have the right to marry and find a family, and marriage shall be based on the free and full consent of the intended parties.
But according to the Honourable Almameh Gibba, Gambians, especially the people of Foñi Kansala, whom he represents at the National Assembly, need a proper explanation of the clause because there are concerns that it could promote homosexuality in The Gambia.
“I believe it is important to ensure that our constitution is culturally and religiously harmless. We also need a constitution that factors in the perspective of the majority of Gambians, or else it will defeat its purpose because, according to my findings, this constitution is open to promoting homosexuality,” he said.
“The manner in which that marriage clause is designed could mean that a man is at liberty to marry his fellow man. So, it is important that we address that issue first before thinking of going to a referendum,” he said.
Honourable Gibba said the draft constitution has not also given the country’s religious groups the protection they deserve.
“I believe it is important to ensure that our constitution is culturally and religiously harmless. We also need a constitution that factors in the perspective of the majority of Gambians, or else it will defeat its purpose because, according to my findings, this constitution is open to promoting homosexuality,” he said.
He said the majority of Gambians are against any form of homosexuality, and any attempt to promote it directly or indirectly will be resisted.
“The manner in which that marriage clause is designed could mean that a man is at liberty to marry his fellow man. So, it is important that we address that issue first before thinking of going to a referendum,” he said.
Honourable Gibba said the draft constitution has not also given the country’s religious groups the protection they deserve.
