By Yusupha Jobe
Musa Drammeh, Minister of Land and Local Government has been accused by Jeshwang women gardeners of allocating part of their garden to a businessman believe to be his brother.
Mr Drammeh is yet to make any comment about the allegations.
Dozens of women gardeners told The Voice they were doing agricultural activities in the garden for so many years without any warning to vacate the place.
“We were only watering crops when of a sudden we saw people measuring the land area putting sticks of demarcations signs. What is more surprising to us is that we had never seen anyone claiming ownership of the land area since we started working in the garden as women,” they said.
“We were just lucky to have our gardens safe because the person contracted to bulldoze the land area for the construction of a buildings did not accepted. We know we are powerless as women but I can tell you that we will stake in our lives to secure our source of living whether we will be killed or not,” he said.
Botto Jarju, Alkalo of new Jeshwang said the women were not given any prior notice to vacate the garden and none of the local community heads were consulted by government stating that even though the area is alleged to be part of Kanifing industrial area there are authorities in the area who can be engage to look into the issue amicably than requesting the women gardeners to vacate their gardens.
“None of the community authorities were consulted by local government. But again you cannot just come and asked women to vacate their gardens like that even though the land area is claimed to be part of Kanifing industrial area but there are authorities in the area that can be consulted to look into the issue but a person cannot just come and start erecting houses within the women garden. I am afraid if we are to lead in this way then we are finish as a country,” he said.
Habib ML Ceesay, Ward Councilor of the area said he was informed of constructions activities going on within the garden this he said prompted him community heads to meet concern government authorities on the issue.
“We have engaged all relevant government authorities including NDMA, Police, Fiscal Planning and local government authorities but to no avail. And when we finally approached the lands minister, he categorically told us that he approved the land area to one of his brothers which is in fact a violation and abusive of office because government is owned by all,” he said.