Mariam Jack-Denton

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Mariam Jack-Denton
Speaker of the National Assembly
In office
11 April 2017 – 17 April 2022
PresidentAdama Barrow
DeputyMomodou L. K. Sanneh
Preceded byAbdoulie Bojang
Succeeded byFabakary Jatta
Member of the National Assembly
Assumed office
11 April 2017
Personal details
Born (1955-12-29) 29 December 1955 (age 68)
Political party
United Democratic Party

Mariam Jack-Denton (born 29 December 1955),

Speaker of the National Assembly of the Gambia from April 2017 to April 2022.[3]

Early life and legal career

Jack-Denton was born in 1955, the daughter of Sir

British citizen.[4]

Jack-Denton trained as a barrister and became the first female Gambian to be called to the bar in the early 1980s.[5][6] She worked as a state counsel and senior state counsel before becoming a legal advisor to the Governor of the Central Bank of The Gambia. She lost her job following the 1994 coup d'état and began an independent practice.[5]

Her barrister's chambers are based at Serign Modou Sillah Street, Banjul.[7] She also worked as a legal advisor to the United Democratic Party, the main opposition party during the Yahya Jammeh government.[8] She was arrested in March 2006 and detained for three months following an attempted coup plot by a group of soldiers and civilians. However, she was later granted bail by the High Court of the Gambia in the 2006 court case Denton v The Director-General, National Intelligence Agency and Others.[2] The government's case against her was dropped.[8]

Political career

Jack-Denton was nominated as one of five nominated members of the National Assembly by President

Speaker of the National Assembly and sworn in by the Chief Justice, Hassan Bubacar Jallow.[6] Following her appointment, Musa Saidykhan commented in Kairo News that "a solid background in law coupled with the spirit of a fighter, [means] many Gambians think Mariam Denton deserves to be a Speaker in a free and democratic Gambia."[5]

On 17 April 2022, she stepped down as Fabakary Jatta became the Speaker of the National Assembly.[9]

Personal life

She is the widow of the former Accountant-General, Abou Denton.[10]

See also

  • First women lawyers around the world

References

  1. ^ Africa Who's Who, pg. 833
  2. ^ a b "The Gambia: Denton v The Director-General, National Intelligence Agency and Others (2006) AHRLR 241 (GaHC 2006)". Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Hon Fabakary Jatta & Hon Seedy Njie takeover Leadership of Sixth Legislature". GAINAKO. 2022-04-17. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  4. ^ "In Latest Cabinet Pick, Barrow to Name Fatoumata Jallow Tambajang Women Affairs Minister Overseeing Vice Presidency; 3 Others SG, Information & Works Ministers Named". The Gambia Echo. 10 February 2017. Archived from the original on 15 February 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b c Saidykhan, Musa (12 April 2017). "Mariam Denton Is A Good Fit". Kairo News. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  6. ^ a b "Mariam Jack Denton Elected Speaker, 5 other women in National Assembly". The Women's Torch. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  7. ^ "Mariama Denton Chambers, Gambia". Access Gambia. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Gambia gets female parliament speaker". Channel Africa. 12 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Hon Fabakary Jatta & Hon Seedy Njie takeover Leadership of Sixth Legislature". GAINAKO. 2022-04-17. Retrieved 2022-04-18.
  10. ^ "Lawyer Mariam Denton Is Gambia's New Speaker Of Parliament". Freedom Newspaper. 11 April 2017. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
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