GP urges gov’t to recognise right to internet access on Dec. 4th

In a statement, GP said that the Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure and Gamtel as well must not shut down the internet gate way on Election Day to curtail the rights of citizens.

The statement added that government should support the IEC with sophisticated but reliable technology tools that could be used to collect results directly from polls once certified.

Speaking to journalists, the GP executive director, Marr Nyang, stated that this year’s elections will test the resolve of state institutions and the electoral commission to conduct countrywide elections that meet international standards as over 962,157 registered voters will participate in the elections; 57% female and 43 male.

According to him, ‘Gambia Participates’ will be providing systematic, accurate and timely information on the Election Day process. He added that, GP’s observation of the 2021 election serves to make the process more inclusive, transparent and accountable by enhancing participation, providing independent information on the quality of the process and deterring potential problems.

“For the December 4th presidential election, GP election day observation efforts will involve deploying 615 citizen observers on proportional basis across all the regions and constituencies in The Gambia to observe the process of voting, counting and results announcement at the polling stations,” he notified.

He added that GP will employ a systematic approach to data collection and analysis through the use of standardised checklist to gather information on the quality of the process from across all the regions and constituencies in The Gambia where the presidential election will take place.

Gambia Participates’ is a Civil Society and non-partisan organisation that works around but not limited to, strengthening democratic governance, Anti-Corruption, Fiscal Transparency, Elections, Transitional Justice and Rural Community Development.

As part of Gambia Participates’ mandate in strengthening democratic governance and improving elections in The Gambia, a total of 665 domestic election observers will be deployed for the upcoming December 4th presidential election, 570 carefully trained Polling Units Observers will be stationed in the polling units across the country on election day to observe the opening, closing and critical incidents at polling stations.