Gambian parliament picks a female lawyer as new speaker

The Gambia has a new speaker of parliament in the person of Mariama Diack Denton. She becomes the first speaker of a post-Jammeh era National Assembly. She takes over from Abdolie Bojang whose tenure expired ahead of the April 6th legislative polls.

Mariama, a nominated member of the new parliament is also a lawyer. Her candidacy for the top legislative post was supported by President Adama Barrow and four other members.

She was sworn into office on Tuesday by the Chief Justice of the Gambia during the opening of the new parliament.

Local media portal, Fatunetwork reported that she thanked the President and her colleagues for reposing faith in her abilities.

“I will do my best to live up to expectation. I shall at all times endeavour to uphold the provisions of the Constitution and the Standing Order of the National Assembly in the performance of my duties as Speaker.

“I will be impartial as expected and maintain the dignity of the office. I look forward to working with all sides of the Assembly and ensure that the welfare of the people is the priority,” she said.

The April 6 polls were the first elections since the electorate voted to kick out long-serving Yahya Jammeh in presidential polls held in December 2016. Despite widespread reports of voter apathy, the main opposition party swept more than half of the available seats whiles Jammeh’s APRC recorded their worst showing.

Jammeh was eventually forced into exile by regional forces who threatened to oust him after he rejected the victory of the then opposition coalition candidate, President Adama Barrow. Barrow took his oath of office in Senegal whiles Jammeh flew out to Equatorial Guinea days after.

Photo Credit: Fatu Network