The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Cllr. Davidetta Browne Lansanah, is at the head of a 3-member delegation currently holding discussions with executives of the Electoral Services International Incorporated (ESI) in Banjul, The Gambia.
Cllr. Browne Lansanah, who is accompanied by two technicians, Emma Togba, Deputy Executive Director for Operations, and James Dogbey, IT Specialist, were invited to Banjul by the Canada-based ESI President, Ryan D. Casson, on an introductory mission of the company’s electoral solutions, including an array of electoral materials such as ballot boxes, printing and other biometric system and voter cards.
During the 4-day visit, Chairperson Browne-Lansanah and technical team paid a courtesy call on the Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) of The Gambia, Alieu Mamarr Njai, on a study tour of that election management body (EMB). Critical to the discussion was how to scrutinize procurement process, aimed at establishing vendors’ ability and preparedness to deliver quality electoral materials in time for an electoral activity (voter registration and election).
Chairperson Browne-Lansanah said she hopes the lessons learnt from the study tour of the Gambian Electoral Commission may assist in decision-making during NEC’s procurement process.
Responding, the Chairman of IEC, Alieu Momarr Njai, said he was pleased that NEC chose Gambia’s electoral commission for the study tour, and welcomed the sharing of ideas, challenges and progress in electioneering.