By Yunus S Saliu
The Government of The Gambia, through the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs (MoLRG&RA), has launched a two-day national validation workshop to review proposed amendments to the Local Government Act 2002 and the Local Government Finance and Audit Act 2004.
The workshop, held from March 10 to 11 at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Bijilo, was supported by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the country’s Responsive and Democratic Transition (GREAT) Project.
About 60 participants attended, including officials from government institutions, local authorities, civil society organisations, academia, development partners, and representatives of women, youth, and persons with disabilities. The consultation aims to ensure that legislative frameworks guiding local governance are updated to be inclusive, modern, and responsive to emerging development priorities.
In his opening remarks, Hamat N. K. Bah, Minister of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs, emphasized the need to modernize local government legislation to deepen decentralisation, strengthen accountability, and improve service delivery nationwide. He said the review reflects the government’s commitment to democratic governance and equipping local authorities with tools to respond effectively to citizens’ needs.
Speaking on behalf of the EU, Raphaël Brigandi, Deputy Head of Mission, reaffirmed the Union’s support for governance reforms that advance decentralisation and democratic consolidation. He said updating the two Acts is necessary as the country’s political, economic, and social landscape has evolved over the past two decades.
Representing the UNDP Resident Representative, Sambou Nget, Programme Specialist and Acting Deputy Resident Representative, said modernising the legal framework is essential to strengthen transparency, accountability, and inclusive participation. He reaffirmed UNDP’s support to the Government of The Gambia through the EU–UNDP GREAT Initiative, particularly in enhancing institutional capacity and ensuring local authorities provide equitable and responsive services.
The draft amendments, developed with technical support from UNDP experts, aim to clarify institutional mandates, strengthen financial oversight and audit mechanisms, improve local revenue generation, and promote gender-responsive and inclusive governance practices.
During the workshop, participants reviewed the draft Bills through technical presentations, plenary discussions, and thematic group work. Their inputs will inform the final legislative proposals before submission to Cabinet and the National Assembly.
The validation workshop marks a key milestone in efforts to strengthen decentralisation and ensure that local government institutions are better positioned to deliver transparent, efficient, and inclusive services across The Gambia.
