Coalition 2026 has pledged to introduce a new constitution, impose a two-term limit on the presidency and overhaul key public institutions as part of an ambitious governance and accountability programme ahead of the December 2026 presidential election.
The proposals are contained in the coalition’s 66-point manifesto, officially launched on Thursday at the Atlantic Hotel in Banjul.
Under its constitutional reform agenda, the coalition says it would introduce the necessary legislation and complete the constitutional review process within six months of taking office. This would pave the way for a national referendum on a new constitution that would establish a two-term presidential limit.
The coalition also pledged to prioritise reparations for victims of human rights violations through annual budgetary allocations to the Victims Reparations Commission. It said it would settle all outstanding verified claims within its first year in government and publish progress reports every six months.
On corruption and public accountability, the manifesto proposes an online public procurement platform within 12 months, giving the public real-time access to government tenders, contract awards, complaints and their outcomes.
The coalition also promised to act on findings in the Auditor General’s reports and publish annual updates detailing measures taken. It further pledged to grant the Anti-Corruption Commission, Access to Information Commission and National Human Rights Commission full financial and enforcement autonomy within two years.
Under the proposed reforms, political officeholders would be required to make periodic asset declarations, with penalties for non-compliance. The coalition said it would enforce the requirement within its first six months in government.
On civil liberties, Coalition 2026 pledged to repeal the Public Order Act within 12 months and strengthen legal protections for freedom of assembly, civic participation and peaceful protest. It also promised safeguards against intimidation and abuses targeting citizens exercising those rights.
Public sector reform is another major component of the manifesto. The coalition said it would complete civil service restructuring and introduce measurable performance standards for public institutions and senior government officials within two years.
It also proposed digitising core government operations to establish centralised, searchable records, strengthen information security and make official decisions more traceable. The reforms, it said, would link institutional accountability to measurable improvements in public service delivery.
The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) features prominently in the coalition’s proposed economic and public utilities reforms.
Within its first year in office, the coalition pledged to commission and publish an independent assessment of NAWEC’s technical, financial, operational and legal performance in providing electricity and water services. The findings would inform decisions on the company’s restructuring and future investment.
It also proposed opening the electricity sector to institutional investors and separating power generation, transmission, distribution and retail supply under a transparent regulatory framework within two years.
The coalition further pledged to expand domestic electricity generation capacity within five years to strengthen baseload supply and reduce reliance on imported energy. In the water sector, it set a five-year target of ensuring the entire population has access to safe and reliable drinking water.
In agriculture, the manifesto promises concessional financing, including long-term credit facilities for farmers, cooperatives and agribusinesses, within 18 months of taking office.
The coalition also plans to revive river transportation to support agricultural trade and logistics, including the rehabilitation of key jetties within three years.
Its fisheries proposals include suspending the operations of foreign industrial fishing trawlers within six months and establishing protected coastal fishing zones to safeguard the livelihoods of local fishing communities.
On environmental protection, Coalition 2026 pledged to introduce constitutional and legislative reforms within two years to prevent gazetted forests from being converted to other uses solely through ministerial orders.
Under the proposed framework, any such conversion would require public consultation, an environmental impact assessment, parliamentary approval and the publication of a justification.
The manifesto places constitutional reform, institutional accountability, public utilities and the protection of natural resources at the centre of the coalition’s campaign platform.
Many of its proposals are accompanied by specific implementation deadlines, ranging from six months to five years. If elected, the coalition would therefore face a series of time-bound commitments against which its delivery could be assessed.
