By Fatou Krubally
President Adama Barrow on Wednesday called on citizens and state institutions to strengthen the country’s democratic foundations by upholding the rule of law, accountability and the independence of public institutions.
Speaking at the opening of the Tripartite Conference on the Commonwealth Latimer House Principles at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre, Barrow said the country’s democratic progress depended on maintaining a balance between the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary.
The three-day conference is being held under the theme: “Upholding the Rule of Law and Democratic Balance: A Tripartite Engagement on the Latimer House Principles in The Gambia”.
President Barrow said the Latimer House Principles provided an important framework for safeguarding judicial independence, accountable governance and respect for the rule of law.
“The strength of our nation lies not in the power of one branch of government, but in the balance among all three – the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary,” he said.
He described the conference as a demonstration of The Gambia’s commitment to strengthening democratic governance through dialogue, cooperation and mutual respect among the three arms of government.
According to the president, the participation of representatives of the Executive, Legislature, Judiciary and Commonwealth partners underscored the importance of collaboration in protecting democratic institutions.
President Barrow said The Gambia’s democratic transition since 2017 had reflected the determination of its people to restore constitutional governance, accountability and respect for fundamental rights after decades of authoritarian rule.
He said the country’s transition represented not only a political transformation but also a moral commitment to rebuild public confidence in state institutions.
The President noted that successive reforms had focused on strengthening judicial independence, enhancing parliamentary oversight and reinforcing executive accountability.
He acknowledged that challenges remained but stressed that continued dialogue and adherence to the rule of law would help consolidate democratic gains.
“The resilience of our democracy depends on the effective and independent, but harmonious, functioning of all three branches of government,” Barrow said.
He urged participants to use the conference to reflect on progress made, identify remaining challenges and reaffirm their commitment to democratic governance, peace and sustainable development.
The president said the conference should serve as a collective pledge for the Executive to govern responsibly, the Legislature to legislate effectively and the Judiciary to administer justice independently.
He described The Gambia’s democratic transition as a testament to the enduring relevance of the Commonwealth Latimer House Principles in promoting constitutional democracy, institutional balance and sustainable peace.
He officially declared the conference open and expressed the hope that its deliberations would contribute to strengthening democratic governance in The Gambia and across the Commonwealth.
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