Opinion: Land issue in Gambia

The importance of land cannot be overemphasised as it is the basis of our livelihood and welfare, something each citizen aspires to own for the benefit of the family.

In my opinion, the Hon member and chairman of the select committee on land should focus more on policy formulation on protecting the interest of Gambians now and for the future generation.

Mismanagement of land is contributing to land scarcity, especially in the Western Region. The Hon member must be aware of the fact that event in his constituency to bury the dead is becoming a problem.

Our land area is fixed just like all other countries. Under normal circumstance, we cannot increase our land area. This calls for proper and judicious management of this most important irreplaceable natural resource.

The table below may be useful as it shows the total area of land for each administrative region and heritability for upland production; i.e. groundnut, maize, etc. 

Source: Dunsmore et al 1976

(Please note that suitable land for upland crop production is also ideal for settlement).

Land pressure suitable from 1976 to the present has changed drastically due to increase in population growth and the uncontrolled migration from the neighboring countries for settlement mostly in the Western Region. In the absence of exploitable minerals, land has now become our gold. It is the scarcity of suitable land that causes land fraudsters, who are often known in the community, to connive with some community leaders to get land fraudulently, which is the root cause of disputes and litigations. Compared to all other districts in this country, it is alleged that the Southern Kombo District is the most notorious for land fraud and litigations.

A similar situation existed in Foni Jarrol District of Western Region that led to the land tenure center University of Wisconsin to undertake natural resource management in that district. This is an important document that our local authorities should read as the first chapter is devoted to common land tenure in The Gambia.

The root causes of land disputes are many. However the then Hon minister of lands, Mr Abba Sanyang, and his former permanent secretary accompanied by the chief, Falalo Toure, undertook a tour of the Southern Kombo District sometime in August last year 2022, for reasons of numerous land disputes and litigations. I stand to be corrected, this tour was reported in The Voice newspaper of 11th November 2022. Again Hon Sulayman Jammeh has again mentioned the same issues. Thus, wherever there is smoke, one should expect fire.

The suggestion of land registration and documentation by Hon member Mr Jammeh will only add to more burden on tax payers. Land documentation and registration is an expensive and bureaucratic undertaking. Our present system of land administration should be maintained and inproved upon. The root causes of conflict are known except where we choose to be blind to the truth and justice.

There are many victims of land fraud. There are also many victims who are nursing their grief and financial loss in silence for moral, religious and time consuming, expensive litigation process.

Let me conclude by saying that Gambians are very law-abiding and peaceful. However, the issue of land should be given priority consideration, where the government can allocate land to ministers and foreigners, almost ignoring the plight of numerous Gambians who despite persistent efforts could not access land.

In my opinion, our political, religious, tribal differnces do not pose a threat to our stability. It is land that may be the potential source to disturb our peace or stability.