By: Kemo Kanyi
Hamat N.K.Bah, Leader of National Reconciliation Party (NRP) has explained why Gambians in diaspora cannot vote in national elections saying, the electoral system must be overhauled for the diaspora to vote.
The NRP leader who is also the Minister of Local Government and Lands, was speaking in Brikama-Ba in Fulladu, Central River Region (CRR) during his party’s National Congress held over the weekend. According to Hon. Bah, he has not commented on the issue of giving voting right to the diaspora since the start of the debate. But, he says it is now important for him to give out his opinion on the burning issue.
He went on to emphasize that the current electoral system in The Gambia could not effectively cover for diaspora voting. “Our current system does not cater for that. It’s the electoral system that needs to be amended, overhauled, to cater for all minority groups, be it a tribe or region, and for diaspora to have the opportunity to vote,” he stated.
He argued that if diaspora could be catered for, then minority groups in the country must also be thought about and therefore the entire electoral system must be overhauled to also cater for the minority religious groups in the country.
He described that as a proportional system of voting, it gives opportunity for every poll to be counted. He added that factors would compel representatives to include the minority groups in presenting their list to the electoral body.
“You can be compelled by law to include women in that list. You can be compelled by law to include other groups, non-Muslims, or other religious groups into the list of people you are presenting in elections. With that, every poll that you cast anywhere in the world is counted and completed,” Hon. Bah explained.