Independent Candidate Faal Declares Over A Billion Worth Of Assets To IEC
A former lead counsel of the truth commission established to investigate the human rights violations of ex-president Yahya Jammeh who is now an independent presidential candidate, Essa Faal, has declared at least D1.4 billion worth of assets to Independent Electoral Commission.
Faal, an international lawyer shot to fame through his work at the truth commission, is one of the 6 candidates qualified to vie for country’s top job, announced IEC on Saturday.
He faces Ousainou Darboe of United Democratic Party, Mama Kandeh of Gambia Democratic Congress, Halifa Sallah of Peoples’ Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism, president Adama Barrow of National Peoples’ Party and Abdoulie Ebrima Jammeh of National Unity Party.
Only him and Jammeh are first timers on the ballot. According to his asset declaration form seen by Malagen, the international lawyer and real estate businessman is worth D1,426,600,000.
He has properties in both Gambia and Senegal, including 5 luxury vehicles worth between D1 million to D3.8 million.
In the last few days, Malagen has published assets declared to the electoral commission by Ousainou Darboe, Dr Ismaila Ceesay and President Adama Barrow.
According to Gambia’s electoral laws, candidates are required to declare their assets with the IEC. These asset declarations and other documents submitted by candidates were published for public scrutiny on Saturday morning.
However, both members of the public and the media are only allowed 5 minutes each to go through hundreds of documents, something activists and journalists criticized as opaque.
Meanwhile, electoral campaign begins on November 9 and end on December 2, according to the calendar released by the election authorities.
There will be a one-day cooling-off period on December 3 before the people head to polls on December 4. The last day for the withdrawal of anyone’s candidature is November 26.