By Binta Jaiteh
The National Assembly has embarked on its 2026 Outreach and Social Audit Program creating forum for constituents in Greater Banjul Area.
The social audit program which run through the Office of the Clerk brought together participants from Banjul, Kanifing Municipality and the West Coast Region.
The outreach focused on the work of parliament, the preparation and scrutiny of the national budget and the management of public resources, including the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) intended to benefit communities.
Speaking at the forum, Speaker of the National Assembly Fabakary Tombong Jatta described the social audit as more than a courtesy exercise, saying it forms part of the assembly’s constitutional responsibility.
He said during the third ordinary session, the Criminal Procedure Bill and the Consumer Protection Bill had both passed their second reading and were proceeding to the committee stage for detailed consideration.
“The proposed National Assembly (Powers and Privileges) Bill has also been the subject of stakeholder engagement, because laws affecting the institution itself must be shaped openly and transparently,” Jatta remarked.
The Speaker pointed out that reports of the Auditor General and the work of the Public Accounts Committee remained central to the assembly’s oversight mandate.
He stressed that audit findings would have limited impact unless they resulted in corrective measures and improvements in public administration.
“The assembly will therefore continue to insist on the implementation of recommendations arising from its oversight work,” he said.
Jatta added that a strong parliament required a professional and accountable assembly service.
“The authority remains committed to strengthening the service through sound systems, continued capacity building and the digitalization of our parliamentary work, so that members are better supported and citizens are better served,” he noted.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Khalifa MM. Mbye, said the forum was designed to bridge the gap between the assembly and the people.
He said the initiative provided communities with an opportunity to highlight challenges, raise concerns and explain their expectations of elected representatives and parliament.
“A social audit is at its heart, an exercise in mutual accountability. It is not simply a platform for information-sharing; it is an opportunity for citizens to ask questions and seek explanations,” Mbye reiterated.
He said the initiative would not have been possible without the “foresight and pragmatic leadership” of the assembly.
Mbye also expressed the assembly’s appreciation to development partners for their continued support for the institution’s public engagement and institutional strengthening efforts.
The outreach forms part of efforts by the National Assembly to strengthen public participation, accountability and citizens’ understanding of parliamentary processes.