By Binta Jaiteh
National Assembly Members on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Ms Halima Dibba as Commissioner at the National Human Rights Commission.
Majority leader and opposition United Democratic Party Kombo South Member Kebba K. Barrow, who presented the report of the assembly public appointment committee for the confirmation, stated the process by which persons are appointed to the National Human Rights Commission as “commissioners” is of significant statutory importance.
According to him, following the vacancy at the Commission the ministry of justice on 30th April 2021 forwarded names of shortlisted persons for the consideration and confirmation of one of the two shortlisted persons by the National Assembly as Commissioners of the Commission.
He added that, at its sitting on Thursday 17th June 2021 the National Assembly by unanimous decision referred the motion for the consideration and confirmation of the appointment of one of the shortlisted person’s as commissioners at the National Human Rights Commission Public Appointment Standing.
“Furthermore, on the 17th December 2021, the office of the Clerk received communication from the National Human Rights Commission bringing to the attention of the Committee that one of the two female candidates shortlisted by the selection panel in accordance with section (5) sub section (1) and the schedule of the NHRC Act 2017 has left the jurisdiction of the Gambia for further studies with no intention of returning anytime soon. The said communication is attached to this report as appendix 1A,” he said.
“However, the framework and procedure for the appointment of persons as Commissioners in the National Human Rights Commission are established in the National Human Rights Act 2017.
In conclusion the commission hereby submits that in its opinion all legal requirements in the National Human Rights Commission Acts are duly complied with and it is recommended that the assembly confirms the appointment letter,” he added.
