By Haddy Touray
At least twenty senior government officials have allegedly been allocated state lands within the Salagi Layout Proper, according to aggrieved customary landowners and demolition victims.
The group made the revelation during a press conference held at the demolition site on Thursday, 10th April 2025.
The officials, mainly from the Ministry of Lands, Regional Administrations and Local Government, Physical Planning, and Lands and Survey, reportedly include current and former permanent secretaries, deputy permanent secretaries, directors, and other senior officials.
Those named include Mamud Manjang, Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS), Ndey Marie Njie, Permanent Secretary (PS) 1 Sissaho, DPS Ebou Taal, DPS Dawda Fatty, Director of Lands and Survey, Ansu Fatty, Senior Officer, Physical Planning Musa Badjie, former Director of Physical Planning and the late Lamin Jammeh, Senior Officer at Lands and Survey, alongside his wife.
Others mentioned include Bunja Janneh, Modou Joof both senior officers at Lands and Survey, Nuha Touray, former Secretary General, Commissioner Lang Fofana of the Gambia Police Force and his wife, Jawara Demba, Senior Police Officer, Mustapha Yabo Senior Government Official, Junkung Colley, Fafa Sanyang, former Petroleum Minister, Sutay Sanyang, Musa Njie, former senior government official, Buba Sanyang, PS at the Ministry of Fisheries, and Muhammed Darboe, an alleged agent of Physical Planning accused of acquiring nine plots.
Alhagie Momodou Morrow Bojang, representing the Kenebaring Kabilo of Sukuta, alleged that these officials connived to frustrate efforts to expose the land allocations. He claimed the officials acquired plots not just for themselves but also for spouses, children, friends, and people living abroad while neglecting the rightful landowners.
He challenged the government and the Department of Physical Planning to provide legal documentation of the land acquisitions, arguing that no consultations or compensations were made to the Kenebaring Kabilo.
“We have been very patient, but the situation is getting out of control. We are giving the government until 15th June to solve this matter. If not, they should be ready to kill us all,” Bojang declared.
He further revealed that a 2024 panel report, obtained through unofficial channels, exposed misconduct by government officials and a failure to follow the Lands Acquisition and Compensation Act.
