The West Africa Network for Peace-building (WANEP)-The Gambia, in collaboration with its partners, on Tuesday held a day-long forum to reflect on the December 4th 2021 presidential election, and focus on upcoming 2022 Legislative elections.
The theme of the forum, held at Senegambia Becah Hotel, focuses on “Strengthening the multi-stakeholder response to election violence in West Africa project.” The overall objective of the experience sharing gathering was to rallying Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to share experiences, best practices, successes, challenges, and gaps on election observation in the lead-up to the parliamentary election.
Mr. Salama Njie, the National Network Coordinator of WANEP, thanked their partners for the collective efforts for the peaceful and successful polls during the last presidential election.
She said the presidential election is gone, but still there are two more elections as in the next couple of weeks, the Gambian electorate would go back to the polls to witness the National Assembly Election. .
Coordinator Njie told the participants the overall objective of the workshop is to promote experience sharing between the CSOs and election observers on the best practices and successes, and the challenges.
Madam Levinia Addae-Mensah, Programme Director of WANEP, suggested that as the parliamentary election is approaching, they should address the challenges they’ve experienced during the presidential election. The peace and security practitioner noted that one of the keys things that contributed to the peaceful election during the December 4th Polls was “partnership and collaboration”, urging it’s important that they continue with that spirit.
Mensah reminded that parliamentary elections are also important and she urged for continued consolidated democracy where people’s voices are heard properly.
Mr. Joseph Colley, Vice Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), speaking at the event, commended the CSOs and their partners for their role in the election, emphasizing the election is the business of everyone. He cited voter education and election observations by CSOs which Colley said help them in their reports and mapping out hotpots; and they also help the ICE to conduct a very credible election.
Saying they conducted the presidential election with success, the electoral Commission’s number 2 added, they want to move forward so that the National Assembly elections would be conducted better.
He assured the IEC would continue its collaboration with stakeholders, especially the Civil society.
Also speaking, Lawyer Emmanuel Joof, Chairman of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) noted the past election went well thanks to the positive efforts of the stakeholders including CSOs and also the political parties too. He said the last presidential election was so crucial because it was the first Presidential election post Jammeh government and emotions were high, and there was freedom of expression.
The NHRC chair hailed that for the first time, the security services provided security personnel for each candidate; “it was very important because all eyes were on the Gambia”.
Joof used the opportunity to congratulate Gambians and the IEC for the job well done, during the presidential election.
He said the National Human Rights Commission has monitored the whole process from the registration, nomination, campaign, and voting processes.
