A new speaker of Gambia’s parliament has been sworn into office on Tuesday. Mariama Diack Denton, a female lawyer will now take charge of the country’s National Assembly after elections were held to elect new Members of Parliament last week.
She becomes the first speaker of the national assembly since the exit of long-time leader Yahya Jammeh who is now in exile in Equatorial Guinea.
#Gambia new Speaker Ms Mariam Jack Denton is country’s 1st female lawyer in country #Bravo
Her dad Sir Alieu S. Jack was 1st Speaker 1962-72— Aisha Dabo™ (@mashanubian) April 11, 2017
– #Gambia new Speaker Ms Mariam Jack Denton is 3rd woman Speaker after
Belinda Bidwell (2006-7)
Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay @naarbi (2007-10)— Aisha Dabo™ (@mashanubian) April 11, 2017
The President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow backed the candidacy of Mariama who is also a member of parliament.
The new speaker said during her swearing in by the Chief Justice of the Gambia at the opening of the new parliament that “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.”
Locale media reported that Mariama thanked the President and her other MPs for backing her candidacy.
#Gambia: All set at the National Assembly for the swearing in of the new MPs pic.twitter.com/UxeWa1Qgme
— Alhagie Jobe (@freejobe39) April 11, 2017
Mr. Barrow’s party won majority of the seats in the National Assembly during last week’s elections.
Source: Africafeeds.com
