The proposed property was chosen after a lengthy consultative selection process and is the property currently being occupied by the West Africa Livestock Innovation Centre (WALIC), which was formerly ITC, situated in Bijilo on the Bertil Harding Highway. The proposed site will measure approximately 10 hectares (25 acres).
WALIC will be relocated to a more suitable location with new offices being built for the Centre. All other services within the proposed site, including the Bijilo Forest Park Visitor’s Centre, that may be affected by the acquisition will be relocated to a more suitable location.
The design, construction and relocation costs of WALIC and the Visitor’s Centre will be borne by the government of the United States.
The Government wishes to assure the general public that in the course of this exercise, the Bijilo Forest Park will not be affected. A team of US technical experts including environmental experts will be working with Gambian experts over the next few years to ensure that all environmental and other concerns are sufficiently addressed.
The procedure of the property acquisition will follow due process and will comply with the Laws of The Gambia.
The building of a new permanent state-of -the-art embassy of the United States of America in The Gambia will significantly strengthen the already strong bilateral and diplomatic relationship between The Gambia and the United States of America. The Gambia Government will keep the public informed of the acquisition process as it progresses.
