By Buba Gagigo
The Ministry of Lands, Regional Governments, and Religious Affairs has launched two committees tasked with investigating Tambi Wetlands and government-designated layouts across the nation.
The first task force, focusing on Tambi Wetlands, Cape Point, and the Bypass Area, includes Bolong Sonko, Pa Ousman Jarju, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, the Inspector General of Police, the Solicitor General, the Director General of SIS, and committee Chairman Bai Mass Taal. The second task force, responsible for examining land transactions in various government layouts and reserved lands, is chaired by Kebba Njie and comprises the Inspector General of Police, the Solicitor General, the Director General of SIS, Madam Jainaba Nyang, Mr. Yankuba Sonko, Mr. Madi Fafa Ceesay, and Mr. Kemo Conteh.
“United Nation, the AU, ECOWAS and everybody believed the next crisis of the Gambia, if we don’t manage, will be on Land. The imminent danger to this country will be on land crisis. Therefore, as a government, we cannot sit idly and watch things happening without addressing it. That’s why we feel that we have to do the right thing. And in doing that, the Gambians would appreciate at least we’re doing something to correct the wrongs of the last 50 years or so. You cannot run a ministry for close to 60 years, you will never have a policy that would dictate and drive strategies. Because the policy that would dictate the Strategy is a strategy that you will implement to address these issues and move on,” the Minister of Lands said.
The Minister emphasized that the ongoing land crisis has prompted his ministry to develop a policy document, supported by international partners, aimed at resolving these pressing issues in the Gambia.
“That’s why you are all aware that with the support of the World Bank and or the International Agencies, we’re working on a policy and everybody’s involved in this policy. We hope the first draft will come out in the month of April 2025. That will certainly go a long way in trying to address some of the problems that we have in this ministry and then going further, we also believe that the current trend, as the chairman of the Tambi Wetlands Committee said, the crisis today is escalating to a level that it is alarming,” the Minister said.
Among the committees’ responsibilities is the investigation of lands previously owned by former President Yahya Jammeh that were not disclosed to the government as part of his assets.
“We will task you to investigate them. Jammeh was believed to have owned 50 hectares of land in Jambur Village. They were not brought to the subcommittee or technical committee that was working on the Jammeh asset. That sub technical committee submitted to the cabinet subcommittee on Jammeh asset and that cabinet subcommittee submitted that matter, that report to cabinet and cabinet made recommendations of which some of those lands were retained,” he said.
The Minister expressed the government’s keen interest in uncovering the fate of these lands, including parcels in Jambur, Manduar, Madiana Brufut, Sanyang Santangba, Sanyang Village, Manduar, and Gunjur Beach Hotel areas, totaling approximately 66 hectares in Kassa Kunda.
“This government wants to know what happened with those lands. What happened to them. The 50 heaters in Jambur, 51 heaters in Manduar village, the Madiana Brufut two kilometers about 232 by 645 meters wide. The Sanyang Santangba three hectares. Sanyang Village 1.6 hectares and Manduar village 51 and half hectares and also the land opposite Gunjur Beach Hotel. We want to know as a government what happened to these lands, and we want this committee to help us give us the information. Their status. What happened. Who did what and, indeed, the 66 hectares at Kassa Kunda? I know that the police are doing some investigation on it. But we are saying it should be part of what we want you to investigate and tell this ministry, this government for us to take further direct measures on it,” the minister said.
Both committees are expected to deliver their findings within the next two months.