Government and civic participation

Know which institution does what

The National Assembly is The Gambia’s single-chamber legislature. Its official website describes three central responsibilities: making laws, scrutinising the executive and representing people. It comprises 53 elected members and five nominated members, for a total of 58.

The President heads the executive. The official Presidency identifies Adama Barrow as President at this guide’s review date, 29 October 2026. Names of office-holders can change; use the current official page when preparing a new display or lesson.

Follow a public issue

A discussion about a road, a school or a health facility becomes more useful when people identify the responsible institution and the evidence needed. Start by defining the problem: where does it occur, whom does it affect, and what action is being requested?

Consult the Assembly’s member directory and committee information for parliamentary representation and oversight. For a service issue, check the relevant ministry or local authority’s own contact channel. Keep a record of the request and any reference number or response. A directory entry alone is not proof that an office can decide a particular matter.

Participate without spreading rumours

The Independent Electoral Commission administers public elections and publishes electoral information. Its voter information identifies Gambian citizenship, age and registration requirements. Read the current IEC guidance directly when checking your own eligibility, registration arrangements or polling instructions.

Do not turn an undated screenshot into an election announcement. Open the original notice, check its date and confirm the authority that issued it. Citizens can question policies and compare arguments while still distinguishing an allegation, a proposal, a published decision and an enacted law.

A civic learning exercise

Choose a local public issue and prepare a one-page brief: the problem, the people affected, the institution responsible, evidence already available and three questions still unanswered. Ask participants to propose a respectful, practical next step.

For legal texts, start with the Ministry of Justice’s published documents and verify the applicable version. A draft constitution is not automatically a constitution in force. Public education works best when a guide links readers to authoritative documents and explains how to read them, rather than pretending to replace legal advice or official decisions.

Sources & further reading

Source review date: 2026-10-29.