The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government and Religious Affairs officially inaugurated the National Land Policy Implementation Steering Committee and the Mansa Bengo Committee, key governance structures to oversee the implementation of The Gambia’s National Land Policy 2026–2035.
The inauguration ceremony, held yesterday at the Ministry of Lands headquarters in Banjul, brought together government officials, legal practitioners, private-sector representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the implementation of the new policy.
The National Land Policy is aimed at improving land governance, promoting sustainable development, reducing land-related disputes and ensuring a fair and equitable system of land administration across The Gambia.
Hamat Bah, Minister of Lands, described land administration as an urgent national priority. He said the government must intensify its efforts to establish an effective and secure land management system.
Minister Bah said the newly approved policy seeks to reform land governance and address what he described as powerful vested interests in the land sector. He also highlighted concerns surrounding foreign companies that benefit from local land and export-related activities.
According to the minister, under proposed new guidelines inspired by developments in neighbouring countries, including Sierra Leone, foreign entities may be required to return land to the state upon the conclusion of their operations.
To reduce the pressure that land disputes place on the judiciary, Minister Bah announced plans to establish a specialised court dedicated to land-related cases.
He also disclosed plans to establish a Land Allocation Board, which he said would provide an important system of checks and balances in land administration and help promote greater transparency and accountability in the allocation of land.
Samba Sowe, Director of Planning, outlined some of the key measures and timelines for implementing the National Land Policy.
He said the implementation is supported by a $10 million funding envelope from the Ministry of Agriculture’s GIRAV project, with a significant portion of the programme focused on modernising land administration.
Among the priorities, he said, are the digitisation of existing land records and the development of an online land information system designed to address problems associated with multiple claims of ownership.
Sowe said a contracted company is currently developing the digital land registry, with completion expected in 2027. An extensive testing phase is scheduled to begin next May to identify and address potential technical and administrative challenges before the system becomes fully operational.
The ministry is also pursuing legal reforms aimed at updating the country’s land and physical planning framework.
Sowe said the Physical Planning and Development Control Act has been reviewed by the Gambian legal team and that a first draft has already been submitted.
He added that ministry officials are expected to conduct an internal review of the draft before determining the next steps, with plans to validate the revised legislation before the end of October.
Salieu Taal, Private legal counsel and member of the Gambia Bar Association, described the adoption of the National Land Policy as a significant step in addressing the country’s long-standing land disputes.
Taal noted that some land cases can take up to eight years to resolve in court, creating significant financial and social burdens, particularly for people who cannot afford prolonged legal representation.
He also pointed to the absence of a centralised system for verifying land ownership, saying lawyers often have to rely heavily on information obtained from local Alkalos.
Taal called for stronger land registration systems, clearer legislation, fair and transparent land allocation mechanisms, and increased public sensitisation to ensure citizens understand their rights and responsibilities under the country’s land laws.
Madam Njillan Faye, an official of Global Properties, welcomed the implementation of the National Land Policy, describing it as an important step towards bringing greater order and transparency to the country’s land sector.
She said effective implementation could help reduce delays, address corruption risks and strengthen environmental protection for future generations.
Faye also expressed the organisation’s readiness to work with the government and other stakeholders to support the implementation of the policy.
With the National Land Policy Implementation Steering Committee and the Mansa Bengo Committee now established, attention will turn to the implementation of the policy and the delivery of its intended reforms, including improved land registration, stronger institutional oversight, dispute resolution and more sustainable land management across The Gambia.