Former President John Mahama met with President Adama Barrow of the Gambia on Wednesday, December 2, 2021, as part of a pre-election Assessment Meeting, ahead of Saturday’s Presidential Election.
Earlier in the day, the EISA Election Observer Mission, led by Mr. Mahama paid a courtesy call on the Inspector General of the Gambia Police Force and held discussions with the Presidential Candidates of the UDP, GDC and the PDIOS.
Information posted on Facebook Portal of the State House of the Gambia said, His Excellency President Adama Barrow today received the Election Observer Mission from the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) at the State House in Banjul.
Speaking to the media after their closed-door meeting with the President, the Head of the Mission His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, said the team was at the Presidency to pay a courtesy call on the President (Adama Barrow) and discuss the mandate of the Mission in The Gambia as the country prepares for the upcoming December 4th Presidential Elections.
Mr. Mahama commended The Gambia for the peaceful conduct of this important democratic process and praised the security forces for providing adequate security for all the candidates. His Excellency Mahama noted that these measures have helped to prevent violence throughout this period.
Mr. Mahama also said the Mission held several meetings with other stakeholders including the IEC, the Chief Justice and the Inspector General of Police. He said he is confident that this election will be conducted peacefully and in line with the democratic practices that The Gambia has embraced.
He went on to add that, “the responsibility for peaceful, fair and transparent elections rests on Gambians”. He said this is the first Presidential election since the 2016 impasse and the international community is watching and hopeful that the country will get it right and consolidate its democratic gains.
Mr. Mahama urged all political party leaders, militants and the Gambians, in general, to cooperate with all the relevant stakeholders in ensuring a peaceful electoral process.
The EISA Mission will also be meeting with other Presidential Candidates as part of their efforts to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections.
