By Mustapha Jarju

European Union (EU)election observation mission to the Gambia was invited by the Gambia`s authority to observe the Gambia’s presidential election scheduled to 4th December 2021. The EU mission said they have made thirty one (31) concrete recommendations to the Gambian authorities out of which only few were implemented.

The 2017 EU EOM made 31 recommendations for the consideration of authorities, most of which were relevant to the 2021 presidential election. “These include partial implementation of recommendation seven (7), which had several components regarding the training of IEC polling staff to become efficient and more participatory”.
The implemented recommendations also include recommendation ten (10) which is centered on the improvement of the officials and communications infrastructure of IEC which has been largely implemented, the statement said.
It further stated that, “five recommendations (6-10) were advanced in the sphere of election administration. The first priority recommendation six (6), to strengthen the institutional independence of the IEC, including through revision of the method of appointment, which would have required constitutional change, and has not been implemented”.
Also six (6) recommendations were made by the EU EOM in 2017 which were (20-25) referring to the media environment. The recommendations to bring the legal framework in line with the regional and international standard on freedom of expression, including the establishment of an independent broadcasting regulatory body and the transformation of the state broadcaster (GRTS) into an independent public service broadcaster (20-23), which have not been implemented.