The Ministry of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs on Monday inaugurated two key committees tasked with advancing the implementation of The Gambia’s National Land Policy, a decade-long framework designed to overhaul land administration, strengthen tenure security, and resolve persistent disputes over ownership.
The National Land Policy Implementation Steering Committee and the Mansa Mbengo Committee were formally launched at the ministry’s conference room in Banjul. The ceremony brought together Lands Minister Hamat N.K. Bah, the deputy governor of the West Coast Region, senior government officials, representatives of the real estate sector, and members of the media.
Officials described the inauguration as a crucial step toward improving land governance, enhancing the management of resources, and promoting sustainable development.
Speaking at the event, Minister Bah underscored the central role of land in The Gambia’s development, noting its importance for agriculture, housing, infrastructure, investment, livelihoods, and environmental protection. He acknowledged, however, that longstanding challenges in governance, administration, access, planning, and management have fueled disputes and hindered progress.
“These challenges prompted the government to develop the National Land Policy 2026–2035,” Bah said. “It is a broad framework for reforming the country’s land sector, emerging from extensive consultations and reflecting the experiences and concerns of communities, institutions, and stakeholders nationwide.”
The committees are expected to coordinate reforms, mediate disputes, and ensure that the policy’s objectives tenure security, sustainable land use, and community engagement are translated into action over the next decade.
