Jonathan Foundation, MRA laud Gambia’s parliament

 The GoodLuck Jonathan Foundation (GJF) and the Media Rights Agenda (MRA) have commended the Gambia’s parliament for passing the country’s Access to Information Bill, bringing to 23 the number of African countries that had enacted the law.

The organisations, who made the commendation in a statement signed by the GJF Communication Officer, Mr Wealth Ominabo, in Yenagoa on Friday, noted that the Gambian President Adama Barrow was expected to speedily sign the bill into Law, to consolidate the restoration of participatory democracy in the country.

Ominabo quoted Ms Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the GJF, and Mr Edetaen Ojo, MRA’s Executive Director, as saying: “The GJF and MRA have followed the progress of The Gambia’s Bill at different stages with keen interest.

“Since its formal presentation to the National Assembly for consideration, guidance and advice have been provided from time to time to their respective partners in civil society.

“In the media and in Government in The Gambia in an effort to enrich the content of the Bill, strengthen it and speed up the process of its consideration and passage”.

The two organisations commended the Gambian Press Union (GPU) for its highly effective advocacy in support of the Bill, which was first presented to the National Assembly for consideration in December 2019.

“We are immensely pleased that in a period of less than two years since then, the Bill has already been passed and that there is a very real prospect that it will be signed into Law in the near future.’

The organisations pledged their readiness to support and assist the Government and people of The Gambia in ensuring the effective implementation of the new access to information framework after it becomes Law.