Prime Minister of the transitional government, Raymond Ndong Sima, gathered the diplomatic corps, party leaders, and representatives of associations to present the outcomes of the call for contributions initiated on September 2nd.
Through this call, Gabonese citizens were encouraged to submit their proposals for consideration during the national consultation scheduled for April, aiming to reform institutions and draft a new constitution for the country. Despite the deadline being the previous day, many Gabonese continued to submit their contributions on Friday.
In total, 17,245 proposals were received, with 15,300 Gabonese utilizing dedicated websites to share their suggestions, while nearly 4,500 visited the Ministry of Institutional Reform in person to deposit their contributions.
Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima expressed satisfaction with the enthusiasm demonstrated by the Gabonese citizens. However, he acknowledged that a segment of the population, particularly indigenous peoples and those isolated in villages without internet access, has yet to express their views. The Prime Minister granted these individuals an additional 30 days to participate.
Meanwhile, the teams at the Ministry of Reform began sorting through the received contributions on Friday. This meticulous process is set to conclude on January 30, 2024. The selected proposals will feed into discussions about the future of Gabon and its institutions during the upcoming National Consultation scheduled for April.