“The consultation and formulation of the national land policy across length and breadth of the country are successfully completed,” he revealed.
“A draft National Land Policy 2026-2035 has since been prepared and copies of which have been and continue to be circulated to all stakeholders with a view to getting their final inputs and feedback so as to guide the finalization of the policy.”
“To this end, a national validation of the policy is slated for 9th of May 2025,” he confirmed.
Asked whether the land policy that is being created reduces the length of land-leasing process and/or reduce the number of land administrators, the minister replied: “The draft policy is all over the country.”
“You can access it. Read it; make your comments and recommendations. When we go for validation, you can bring them forward to be considered in the final policy.”
The minister also shed light on the land crisis between Busura village of Brikama South in the Marakisa Ward and Talokoto of Kombo East.
While updating the Assembly, he explained that “after careful consideration and examination of the conflict, it is my Ministry's position that the most effective way to resolve the conflict is to conduct a boundary demarcation.”
He assured the Assembly that his ministry was working diligently with relevant stakeholders to resolve the serious conflict between these three communities.
“We are working very hard with relevant stakeholders to ensure that a proper boundary demarcation is done. This exercise is very technical and sensitive and thus requires a thorough analysis of the very many socio-economic and political consequences.
“Also, the Ministry has since requested for cash allocation from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs for boundary demarcation exercise. Once the cash allocation is received, it will be considered alongside with other affected communities to resolve the matter.”
“In order to avoid the level of assault that is happening in this area in terms of crisis, I want to assure the members that recently I met some members of the community from this area and had a meeting with them.
“I can assure you that this is a serious concern to the government of The Gambia and we hope very soon we get this cash and resolve this matter swiftly.”
