The presser also serves as a score card for the events that followed the November presser, especially the period before, during and after the December 4th polls.
Speaking at the ceremony, Musa Amul Nyassi, co-chairperson of IPC informed journalists the role IPC played in promoting credible and peaceful elections and their plan ahead of the April 2022 National Assembly elections and beyond.
“During the election, IPC monitored the implementation of its MOU and Code of Conduct and Janjanbureh Peace Accord, paying attention to the incidents of hate speech, violence, and gender-based violence.”
During the week leading to the election, Nyassi explained that IPC received a total of 60 telephone calls reporting cases of personal attacks; hate speech, physical attacks of militants and damages to billboards and party paraphernalia.
“Most callers were men and the few women callers complained of gender-based attacks and hate speeches.”
He further indicated that IPC, through its youth and women branches, will undertake a nation-wide campaign to advocate for the election of more women and youth in the next National Assembly, with the aim of achieving 30% quota for women and more youth representation.
“The IPC will also work closely with CSOs and the media to promote peace in the 53 constituencies. It will also review and translate their MOU and Code of Conduct into national languages for wider understanding by all Gambians of IPC’s role in promoting gender, peace, and democracy.”
The IPC, he added, is glad to report to all Gambians and electoral stakeholders that its role in promoting credible and peaceful elections, before and during the election has been well received by the public, domestic and international observers.
“The Janjanbureh Peace Accord has been widely recognized by national and international actors for committing party leaders, candidates and supporters to uphold peace before, during and after the elections.”
Nyassi noted that during the campaign period, political actors were regularly reminded of the need to adhere to the provisions of the peace accord by both the public and the media.
‘The IPC implemented other activities that played a part in promoting peaceful election such as “Peace messaging in Mandinka, Wolof, Jola, Fula and Serahulleh languages using jingles and videos aired on televisions, national and community radios, and social media platforms across the country, among others.”
The IPC Co-chairperson assured that as The Gambia approaches April 2022 elections, they would establish a situation room to monitor the implementation of its MOU and Code of Conduct and document complaints from members of the public against the conduct of IPC members, party leaders and their supporters concerning breaches to its Code of Conduct and the IEC Code on Election Campaign Ethics.
