The Gambia Football Federation has on Saturday February 17th made amendments to its Constitution, adopted the GFF Electoral Code and appointed an Electoral Committee.
These developments were proposed and moved by delegates at an Extra Ordinary General Assembly held at the Football Hotel in Yundum.
The Assembly delegates adopted the proposal of eligibility check for candidates to the Office of President and all Executive Committee members as part of the electoral code. Under the Eligibility Check, as in Annex 1, there would be screening process for the candidates and an eligibility questionnaire.
Delegates also proposed and adopted the composition of the Electoral Committee as thus: Chairman, Deputy Chairman and three other members to serve in the Committee for not more than two Four year term.
The period for the nomination of President is adopted as” One Month ” before election while the Articles
- Elections shall be conducted by an electoral committee which shall be elected by the General Assembly in the AGM before the Elective Congress, in compliance with the Electoral Code.
34.1 (G) The Executive Committee may copt up to 2 members based on their technical competence and subject them to passing an eligibility check to be conducted by the electoral committee
34.4 ( e ) The members of the Executive Committee shall pass an Eligibility Check to be conducted by the Electoral Committee.
41.4 The general secretariat shall notify the members of the names of the candidates at least (2) two weeks before the date of the Elective General Assembly
GFF President Lamin Kabba Bajo said the proposals in the electoral code have been sent to FIFA in advance for it to be aligned with best practices. He said FIFA was pleased to see the Gambia been among member Associations that is introducing eligibility check to ascertain the integrity of their football leadership. ‘ The eligibility check on the candidates is in compliance with the FIFA Reform agenda and this is a welcome news for both CAF and FIFA’, Kabba said.
Delegates further proposed and adopted the conduct of AGM before the elective congress. The Electoral Committee according to the amendment would not serve more than two consecutive terms.
Delegates nominated and eventually adopted the following to serve as members in the Electoral Committee:
Alh Dodou Joof ( Capi ), Mr Buba Njie, Mrs Haddy Sillah Njie, Mr Saikou B Jarju and Mr Karalang Jatta while Mr Momodou Mbessan, (former NBRFA President ), Omar Sumpo Ceesay ( former Governor URR) , and Mr Haruna Sanneh of CRR are been appointed into the Electoral Committee Substitutes.
The Electoral Committee shall organize and supervise the election process and take all decisions relating to elections within the GFF. In the event that a member of the Electoral Committee does not fulfill the requirements, the member in question shall immediately leave his position and be replaced by a Substitute.
Delegates also proposed the appointment of Appeals Committee and eventually apointed the following as members: Mr Ebrima Kijera, George F Gomez, Ebrima KS Dampha ( Governor NBR) and Mary Samba Christensen while Mr Abdoulie Jallow ( Poti ), Malang Beyai and Lamin Sanneh will serve as Appeals Committee Substitutes.
The General Assembly ended with the GFF President thanking the delegates for their invaluable time in contributing to the development of football. ‘ Your contribution shows that you have taken ownership of Football. GFF belongs to you and so all of you must come with suggestions and observations and challenge us to improve more’. KABBA said he feels very proud when walking in the corridors of CAF/FIFA ‘ because of you the stakeholders’.
