The Electoral Committee of The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) has announced that Saturday 27th August, is slated for the 2022 GFF Elective Congress where a new Executive Committee will be elected by delegates for another four-year term.
The Committee further announced that nominations for elective positions will open on Thursday 21st July and closes a week later on 28th to fulfil the 30-day mandatory requirement in accordance with Article 11.1 of the Electoral Code. An initial announcement of the nominated candidates will be made in line with Article 12.1 on Thursday 4th August before the publication of the final list on August 13.
This announcement was made by Mr. Saikou B. Jarjue, the Vice Chairman of the Committee, in a press briefing held at the Football House today. He was deputising for the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. Lamin Sanneh. Flanked by his colleagues in the Committee in the persons of Superintendent of Police, Karanlang Jatta and ex-Secretary General of the National Olympic Committee, Abdoulie Jallow, Mr. Jarjue reassured stakeholders and the general public of the Committee’s impartiality and fairness throughout the electoral process.
He further noted that there will be no outside interference, adding that the process would be guided by the Constitution of the GFF, the Electoral Code and the FIFA Code of Ethics as enshrined in the GFF Statutes. He, therefore, advised aspiring candidates to acquaint themselves with these three instruments as well as Eligibility Questionnaires because every aspirant is obliged to fulfil all the requirements in it.
The press briefing was chaired by GFF General Secretary Lamin M.Jassey who also serves as Secretary to the Electoral Committee, who clarified that as in line with Article 5.2 of the Code Electoral Code which states; the General Secretary of the GFF shall serve as the Secretary to the Electoral Committee. He shall take part in the activities of the Committee in a consultative capacity, is responsible for the related logistical matters and takes care of administrative matters.
He added that the Electoral Committee may also be assisted by members of the general secretariat at any time, provided that they are not standing as candidates for elected posts, as contained in Article 5.6. Thus, Mr. Jarjue emphasised that General Secretary and Secretariat staff, are not members of the Electoral Committee and do not participate in any decision-making process by the Committee. His responsibility, he added, is only to offer administrative support, including taking minutes of the Committee.
The Electoral Committee is elected by the members of the GFF in the last Annual General Meeting held in December of 2021, in line with Article 30.2 of the Constitution of the GFF which states as follows: 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 electoral code.
