Chief Justice Jallow received the honourable award - Dr Luke Wod Peace and Justice Award -last week at Sacramento's Center, California, USA, named after the president of the University.
The award was in honour of Justice Jallow’s decades-long commitment to international justice and human rights. Before this time, such an award has been received by only two personalities in the world, who are Nana Akufo-Addo, former president of Ghana, and the late Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa. The award to Justice Jallow represents a big boost for the Gambia's Judiciary and a pride for all Gambians.
Mr President, since you assumed office in 2017, when you appointed Chief Justice Jallow, to date, the Gambian judiciary has registered a remarkable record of fair trials. It is also worth noting that prominent Gambian judges and magistrates are playing key roles in promoting justice and the rule of law in The Gambia.
For sure, much good can be said of The Gambia judiciary today when compared to the Jammeh era when we had the kangaroo courts, when government cases were ruled in favour of the regime.
With the current regime, we have seen government lose cases. For instance, the legal battle between the President of the Republic and Honourable Ya Kumba Jaiteh in January 2020 was won by the latter. Although you nominated her as a Member of Parliament, and revoked her nomination in 2019, she contested the revocation and took the matter to the Supreme Court and won.
Also on April 16, 2025 the Supreme Court ruled in favour of KMC in a landmark decision against the Ministry of Lands and Regional Government and the IGP, for entering illegally at the KMC.
Mr President, the Chief Justice in observance of the Legal Year, in February this year, stated that 6,137 cases are in courts, and that "we need more investments in the administration of justice in order to manage such workload - more offices, more hands, more courts room".
Mr President, as we applaud and appreciate our Chief Justice for such a high-profile award bestowed on him, the government should act now to cease or curb delay of court cases, most of which are land tussles in West Coast Region. Delaying cases must be avoided, since justice delayed is justice denied.
NAWEC
Mr President, NAWEC – the National Water and Electricity Company – came to conclusion its agreement with Karpowership on 2nd May this year after a seven-year service providing 30 megawatts of electric power, which covered 40% of the Gambia electricity need.
It is essential that your government gives priority to NAWEC to improve its services and fill the gap to ensure electricity is reliable and affordable in the country. Without reliable electricity, investments in the country, business, and the economy will collapse.
A strategic move to contain the situation is that your government could explore the OMVG project and make a difference. At the same time, Government should also endeavour to pay bills in time. In the same vein public consumers should pay their water bills. And all bills must be paid every month or in time to enable NAWEC deliver their services as expected.
Good day!