The spoke person of Gambia’s new President Adama Barrow today announced the appointment of Aja Fatoumata Tambajang as the New Vice President of The Gambia. Ms. Tambajang is a founding member of the coalition of opposition parties where she represented civil society and independent citizens. She was the chair and coordinator of coalition negotiations throughout the process. She was credited for tirelessly working across the aisle to convince party leaders to put their partisan differences aside and unite to defeat incumbent Ex-President Jammeh. Ms. Tambajang along with other opposition leaders worked hard to iron out a formula to bring the parties together.
Aja Fatoumata Tambajang is a former staffer of the UNDP before being appointed as Minister of Health and Welfare in the early days of the Jammeh administration. She was relieved of her duties when the former Vice President of the military Junta Sanna Bairo Sabally was accused of wanting to overthrow the Jammeh government which led to his arrest and subsequent sentencing to nine years in Jail. Ms. Tambajang went back to working for the UN as a consultant but remained in tune with the political situation in the Gambia. She was rumored to be in advance preparation to launch her own political party which never came to fruition.
Ms. Tambajang was one of the national leaders who were very visible during the UDP debacle which led to the sentencing of the entire UDP executive. She was seen running from the court house to another, visiting prisoners and addressing the injustices on behalf of the detainees. She regularly denounced Jammeh’s dictatorship and was one person who was not afraid to put her life on the line to speak against the dictatorship.
However, Ms. Tambajang’s appointment has generated some controversy as some people raised concerns about her eligibility due to her age. She is alleged to be over the age limit of 65 which President Jammeh and his cabinet inserted into the 1997 constitution to bar some citizens from contesting elections to keep members of the first republic from contesting elections. The age limit provision in the Gambian constitution has been a huge contention with citizens alleging that it was discriminatory against other citizens notably the leader of the United Democratic Party Ousainou Darboe who turned 66 before the December 2016 elections. In fact, many people believe that it was that age limit provision which Jammeh refused to be amended that led to UDP members coming out to the streets and protesting peacefully for electoral reform.
It is not clear why President Adama Barrow would appoint someone who is alleged to over the age knowing fully well that it may violate the current constitution no matter how flawed it is. Others question why members of the coalition among them legal experts and some well-versed individuals in the constitution could not raise concerns about this potential violation. As we go to press Gainako is unable to officially authenticate the actual age of Ms. Tambajang but expect to hear from the coalition spokesperson on the constitutionality of Ms. Tambajang’s appointment. Others went further to raise concerns on whether the coalition should respect the provisions of the 1997 constitution many of which were illegally inserted and or removed from the constitution to suit President Jammeh’s desires. This is certain the first test of the new government on whether it will own up to its mistakes or insist that the provision in question in the constitution in itself is in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens due to their age. Whatever the debate, it is a great sign of an awoken citizenry who appears to be conscious of constitutional provisions as they are currently written in the constitution.
Story filed by Demba Baldeh
2 Comments
Ms Tambajang’s age is just a number. Her qualifications and passion for the success of the new Gambia in my view override the academic issue of her age. I congratulate her on her appointment and wish her and the new Gambia all prosperity and joy.
What age limit? Why did we cry so much, that our rights have been trampled upon? That age limit was not an ammendment of the Gambian constitution but a wedged in decree into the constitution of the Gambia by Jammeh to enable him carry on with his mischievious plans in making Gambia his household property.
There should be other genuine points to generate controversy in Fatoumatou Tambajang’s appointment as vice president than the latter….
All decrees of Jammeh mde law by the so-called Aprc majority parliament/national assembly, should be overriden by, by the new government and the foundamental constitution be used as the guide to future ammendments, or decisions to be taken by the goverment. I don’t think I have to be a legal expert or political scientist as a citizen in order be be able to figure out some ABCs of constitutionalism and
democracy.
My opinion in this issue is not a notion of my support for Mrs. Tambajang but to remind fellow citizens of the fact that Yaya has demoralised the Gambian constitution before he was able to demoralise Gambians.