Peaceful Election and High Voter Turnout Demonstrate Gambia is a Speedily Growing Democracy in Africa

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By: Shering Fye Chairman, National Council for Civic Education (NCCE)

In the build-up to the just concluded 4th December presidential election, there were palpable fear and apprehension that the country could descend into disarray due to the rhetoric and keen combat exhibited by the contesting candidates and their supporters both on Social Media and on the campaign trail. Generally the election was calm and peaceful, it went through a process that many on the continent will envy.

The fact that the election was billed as a litmus test for Gambia’s nascent democracy –as the first election since the ousting of a dictator – Gambians were able to pass through it unscathed, apart from few skirmishes in isolated cases, have again proved to the whole world that the Gambia is gradually being accepted in the club of democratic nations in Africa.

International election observers and their domestic counterparts including the NCCE have all given the elections a clean bill of health and expressed admirations of the transparency of the entire process and the mature manner in which Gambians cast their ballots.   It is therefore safe to conclude that the whole exercise – though it produced some tense moments – was generally a spectacular success and the will of the Gambian people has been determined.

NCCE is extremely pleased with the unprecedented voter turnout of 89% in the elections. We want to thank all contenders and  Gambians for the peaceful conduct of the elections and for exercising their civic right and duty. We Congratulate His Excellency President Adama Barrow for his re-election as President of the Republic of The Gambia.

We also congratulate the Independent Electoral Commission, the security services, the media, CSOs and all the institutions/organisations and individuals who in diverse ways made the election a remarkable success.

Notwithstanding, we wish to remind all aggrieved individuals to follow due process to seek redress as provided for by the Constitution to ensure that the rule of law, peace and stability prevail in the Gambia and desist from actions that are inimical to peace, as our collective desire for development can only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity.

We extend a special gratitude to Government and our partners especially the UNDP for supporting us in our journey to conduct an intensive civic and voter education campaign ahead of the polls across the county, to galvanise citizens to exercise their civic right of voting as well as promote peace during and after the process. This occasioned an amiable electoral process and voter turnout that is without a historical parallel.

Overall, we can give the thumps up for living up to the billing that the Gambia is the Smiling Coast of Africa and truly a bastion of peace and now democracy. We have proved once again that selecting a leader can be achieved through the ballot box without blood-letting.

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Sainey M.K. Marenah
Mr. Sainey M.K. Marenah is a prominent Gambian journalist and the founding editor of The Alkamba Times. He previously held the position of Head of Communications at the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) and served as a Communications and PR Consultant for The Gambia Pilot Program under Gamworks. Additionally, Mr. Marenah was the social media strategist and editor at Gambia Radio and Television Services and served as the Banjul Correspondent for Voice of America Radio. With a focus on human rights and developmental journalism, Mr. Marenah has established a significant presence in the Gambian media landscape, particularly in new media environments. His career began in 2008 as a junior reporter at The Point Newspaper, where he advanced to become Chief Correspondent. He later joined The Standard Newspaper in Banjul as Editorial Assistant and Head of News. Mr. Marenah is known for covering some of the most critical stories during the former and current administrations, including high-profile treason cases involving former military chiefs from 2009 to 2012. After his arrest and imprisonment by the previous regime of President Yahya Jammeh in 2014, he relocated to Dakar, Senegal, where he continues to work as a freelance journalist for various local and international media organizations, including the BBC, Al Jazeera, VOA, and ZDF TV in Germany. He is also a co-founder of the Banjul-based Media Center for Research and Development, an institution dedicated to research and development initiatives. As a journalist and communication expert dedicated to supporting the Gambia's transitional process, Mr. Sainey M.K. Marenah plays a significant role in developing a media and communications platform aimed at enhancing civic participation and raising awareness of the requirements for transitional governance. His efforts contribute to the country's ongoing movement toward democratization. In addition to his work in Gambia, Mr. Marenah has traveled extensively across Europe, Africa, and the United States as a professional journalist and has participated in various local and international media training programs. He is currently based in the United States.

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