The
Head of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission to The Gambia, Prof. Kwadwo
Afari-Gyanhas, appealed to all political stakeholders to ensure the country’s
April 6 Parliamentary elections are held in an atmosphere of peace and
tranquillity so as to consolidate the gains of democracy in the country and the
region.
Speaking
at a press conference held yesterday held at the SeaView Hotel Kololi, the head
of the ECOWAS 20-member mission commended the Gambian Government and people for
the reasonably peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the country and expressed the
hope that the positive trend would be sustained during and after the National
Assembly polls.
“ECOWAS
is here to observe the parliamentary elections as further demonstration of its
commitment to accompany and support the Government and people of the New Gambia
in the country’s political progress and development for the benefit of all,”
declared Prof. Afari-Gyanhas, who also led an ECOWAS needs assessment mission
to the country last February.
He
said this was in the aftermath of the December 2016 Presidential election, won
by the opposition party after 22 years of the administration of former
President Yahya Jammeh, now exiled in Equatorial Guinea.
The
ECOWAS election observation mission deployed by the President of the ECOWAS
Commission H.E. Marcel de Souza, in consonance with the regional Protocol on
Democracy and Good Governance, is supported by the Commissioner for Political
Affairs, Peace and Security Mrs Halima Ahmed, the ECOWAS Permanent
Representative in The Gambia Mrs Vabah Gayflor, the Director of Political
Affairs, Dr Remi Ajibewa and the Head of the Electoral Assistance Division
(EAD), Mr Francis Oke.
Prof.
Afari-Gyanhas assured that the ECOWAS observation mission would be impartial
and its findings made public, while reminding all stakeholders including the
political parties, the candidates and their supporters, the government, the
electoral Commission and the security agencies about the need to work together
for peace in the interest of the nation.
He
recalled that ECOWAS-led efforts, supported by the international community, had
facilitated the peaceful transfer of power after the December presidential
election.
“There
is the need to sustain the momentum and consolidate the gains,” he said,
adding: “This would only be possible with the support and cooperation of all
Gambians.”
Commissioner
Ahmed said ECOWAS could not observe the presidential election due to the circumstances
at the time and in compliance with its normative instruments on democracy and
good governance. But she explained that the Commission and regional leaders
have remained engaged with stakeholders to accompany the Gambia on the path of
progress and democratisation.
She
noted that the Commission’s President de Souza has paid a solidarity visit to
The Gambia, while the ECOWAS military Mission, ECOMIG, deployed to the Gambia
following the post-election tension is still in the country providing the necessary
security support. ECOWAS has also upgraded its Bureau in the Gambia to
Ambassadorial status.
According
to Prof. Afari-Gyan, “ECOWAS’ overarching objective of regional integration and
economic development is the responsibility of all the community citizens, and
we are confident that Gambians will continue to play their part towards the
realisation of ECOWAS 2020 Vision for transformation from an ECOWAS of State to
an ECOWAS of people.”
Some
238 candidates from nine political parties and independents are vying for
positions in The Gambia’s 53-seat National Assembly in the 6 April elections.
The
Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) registered 886,547 voters for the
elections from the country’s estimated 1.9 million people. There are 1,422
polling stations across the 53 constituencies nationwide.