The AGM, a pivotal event for the country’s private sector, will feature elections to choose a new Board of Directors that will steer the Chamber’s affairs for the next three years.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Ambassador Abdoulie M. Touray, former GCCI President and member of the Advisory Council, underscored the importance of the upcoming elections, describing as “a defining moment” for the Chamber.
He noted that for decades, the GCCI has served as the leading voice of The Gambia’s private sector, advocating for a conducive business environment, fostering partnerships, and promoting inclusive growth. According to him, the elections are not only about leadership but also about “continuity, accountability, and the credibility of the business community as a whole.”
The polls will be conducted under the supervision of the GCCI Advisory Council and the Gambia Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (GCCPC), a move Mr. Touray said reflects the Chamber’s commitment to transparency, fairness, and integrity.
He further highlighted the private sector’s crucial role in national development, pointing to opportunities within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), digital transformation, and climate-resilient growth. He urged members to actively participate in the democratic process, calling on candidates to run dignified campaigns, and encouraged stakeholders to uphold the Chamber’s values of integrity, fairness, and excellence.
Almami Fanding Taal, former GCCI CEO and advisory council member, elaborated on the eligibility criteria for board membership. He stressed that only fully paid-up members in good financial standing for the past three years may contest, and nominees must be representatives of registered businesses with at least three years of audited accounts. He emphasised that candidates for the posts of President, Vice President, and Treasurer must come from Category A and B membership groups and be ordinarily resident in The Gambia.
Taal also outlined the Chamber’s voting structure, noting that extra-large businesses will have six votes, large businesses five, medium businesses four, small businesses three, micro-businesses two, and start-ups one. He added that the GCCI aims to improve women’s representation by ensuring at least 30 percent of board positions are held by women.
The new Board of Directors will comprise the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and representatives from key sectors, including tourism, construction, real estate, agriculture, finance, trade, and youth enterprises. Ex-officio members from GPA, GIEPA, and the GCCI CEO will also sit on the board.
Kebba Tamsir Njie, a GCCI board member, paid tribute to the foresight of past leaders who helped the Chamber secure strategic facilities, including trade fair grounds, and applauded the leadership of the current CEO, noting with pride that “for the first time, a woman has risen from within the institution to head the Chamber.”
The elections will be conducted by secret ballot in accordance with the GCCI Constitution, with nominations to be submitted in writing to the Advisory Council.
