A number of political heads and representatives have supported the idea that the officials of the Independent Electoral Commission should declare their assets before assuming office and after leaving office.

On Saturday at least eight political parties converged at Ocean Bay Hotel as the Constitutional Review Commission engaged and update the political parties on some of the preliminary submission to the Commission.

 Mai Ahmet Fatty, leader of Gambia Moral Congress said IEC commissioners should be subjected to public scrutiny before their appointment, adding “the constitution should ban non-Gambians from funding political parties.”

He however, rejected the idea to submit their financial reports to the Independent Electoral Commission saying “political parties should not submit their financial report to the IEC if government is not giving them money. No taxation without representation.”

Fabakary Tombong Jatta, leader of APRC, said “we must accept scrutiny is national scrutiny, adding parliamentary scrutiny is enough.”

UDP leader, Lawyer Ousainou Darboe said the commissioners should declare their assets before assuming office, adding “they should be persons with integrity.”

He said: “people who should serve in the office of Independent Electoral Commission should declare their assets.”

Mr Sabally, representing Gambia Democratic Party, said “it should not be a business of anyone to scrutinize any party on how it gets its funding.

He said “if government can give subvention to political parties then it can scrutinize the parties if not why would they scrutinize us.”  

Reporting by Adama Makasuba