#Headlines

Commonwealth election observers arrive 

Dec 1, 2021, 12:27 PM

A Commonwealth election observer group has arrived in Banjul, Gambia to observe the presidential election due to be held on Saturday, 4 December 2021.

The Commonwealth Election Observer Group will be led by former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo, as Chairperson.

In a statement issued on his behalf by Prosper Bani, former Ghanaian Minister of Interior, said: “We recognise the significance of this presidential election to the people of The Gambia, and the historical context in which this contest is taking place. We also recognise the particular challenges posed by the ongoing pandemic - both in terms of campaigning and election administration.

“Our mandate, as set out in the Commonwealth’s ‘Revised Guidelines’ for election observation is to observe and evaluate the pre-election environment, polling day activities and the post-election period. We will consider whether conditions exist for a credible, transparent and inclusive election.”

The Group will meet various stakeholders, including political parties, the police, civil society groups, citizen observer and monitor groups, and the media.

From 2 December, the Group will deploy observers in small teams to each of the six regions to observe electoral preparations and meet with stakeholders in their respective areas.

On Election Day, The Group will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and results management processes.

The interim statement of its preliminary findings will be issued on 6 December and the Group is scheduled to leave Gambia by 10 December.

The Commonwealth Observer Group members are:

H E Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria, (Chairperson)

Prosper Bani, Former Minister of Interior, Ghana

The Hon Martha Karua, Former Minister of Justice, Kenya

Robert Phiri, Executive Director, Public Affairs Commission, Malawi

Hendrick Gappy, Former Chairperson, Electoral Commission, Seychelles

Shyamala Gomez, Executive Director, Centre for Equality and Justice, Sri Lanka

Candia Dames, Executive Editor of the Nassau Guardian,The Bahamas

Crispin Kaheru, Commissioner, Uganda Human Rights Commission, Uganda

Musa Mwenye, SC Former Attorney General, Zambia

Read Other Articles In Headlines
Gambia registers 31 new Covid cases
Aug 25, 2021, 10:50 AM

The Gambia has registered 31 new cases (cumulative cases, 9,470) according to the 359th national situation report since the confirmation of the first case of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in The Gambia, on the 16th March 2020.

Govt urges GTU
Gov’t urges GTU executive to reconsider decision
Jan 9, 2023, 12:40 PM

The The Gambia government has responded to the demands from The Gambia Teachers Union (GTU) executive on the issue of “inconsistencies in the payment of allowances to the Education Sector Personnel since the introduction of the 30% salary increment last year”.

New British PM
New British PM vows to pursue UK-Rwanda Immigration plan
Oct 31, 2022, 9:56 AM

Rishi Sunak, the new British Prime Minister, has vowed to pursue the tough and uncompromising UK-Rwanda immigration plan designed to transfer to Kigali asylum seekers and refugees including Senegambians that crossed the English Channel.

4 candidates to run under independent ticket in Dec 2021 polls
Mar 5, 2021, 11:25 AM

The Independent Electoral Commission has disclosed that four presidential aspirants will contest as independent candidates in the 4th December general elections.