By: Sandally Sawo
Some Lebanese businessmen have reportedly paid up to $100,000 to former and present local government ministry officials to benefit from government land allocations at Kamalo Industrial Zone.
After almost one year and four months when calls were made for the Gambia government to probe the Kamaloland allocations, the government has now grabbed the bull by the horns and is apparently ready to deal with the issue head-on.
In April 2022, the Gambia government completed land allocations at the Kamalo Industrial Zone in Old Jeshwang amidst controversy.
The Kamalo lands belonged to the Mamadi ManiangCeesay family in Old Jeshwang.
The government said the family was duly compensated after it acquired the area to set up an industrial zone.
A senior member of the family told this reporter that there was nothing shady about the allocations.
However, shortly after the allocations were complete, allegations about graft and favoritism flew around ferociously.
Sources informed this reporter that most of the land went to Lebanese businessmen at the expense of prospective Gambian investors.
Some of these Lebanese were said to have greased the palms of government officials with up to $100,000.
Many Gambians, who wanted to invest in the area, have reportedly been denied the opportunity as the Lebanese were reportedly willing to pay bribes to local government ministry staff.
The ministry has strenuously denied this allegation when this reporter approached it for comment.
Meanwhile, the government has Tuesday directed the cessation of all development at the Kamalo Industrial Zone as it expressed its readiness to review the land allocations.