By Yusef Taylor, @FlexDan_YT
The Gambia Press Union (GPU) is set to elect a new executive on 29th October 2021 with all but one executive member, the current Vice President, Mr Muhammed MS Bah deciding to step down. The outgoing President of the Union, Mr Sheriff Bojang Jnr informed this medium that his intention has always been to run for one term and pass on the baton.
Three Presidential Candidates are in the running for the Presidency including the current Vice President Muhammed MS Bah of Foroyaa Newspaper, Freelance Journalist Omar Wally and Kerr Fatou’s Mustapha Ceesay. A Presidential debate is scheduled for the candidates on 28th October 2021, just one day before the election.
The Vice President role has been announced as unopposed, GRTS Journalist, Isatou Keita “is the only candidate that officially applied to contest for the position of Vice President” said a presser from the Union.
Mr Bojang Jnr became President of the Union after winning the elections in 2018, while the current Vice President, Muhammed MS Bah took over from Mustapha K Darboe after he resigned in August 2020.
Our reporter questioned the outgoing President why he decided not to run for a second term given the fact that no other executive member [voted for in 2018] is running for a second term.
According to outgoing President Mr Bojang Jnr, he decided to run with the intention of serving for “one term, contribute to the growth of the union and what it stands for, to the best of my ability, and then pass the baton to someone else to continue. That intention never changed. I believe in the GPU at its current state and I strongly believe that we’ve helped lay a foundation that the next president and team can continue from. This is why I am not vying for a second term. GPU will always prosper, with or without me. I believe in its future.”
The outgoing executive members are Mr Sheriff Bojang Jnr (President), Muhammed MS Bah (Vice President), Mariatou Ngum, Mustapha Mbye, Kebba Jeffang, Pa Modou Faal and Sarjo Camara-Singhateh who are all ordinary members.
Four candidates are vying for the position of Ordinary Board Member in “Momodou Jawo of the Point, Alieu Ceesay of QTV, Mariama Cham of EyeAfrica and Stephen Perriera of Star FM”.
A follow-up article will be published tomorrow featuring questions and answers to all three Presidential Candidates.