By: Fatou Krubally
The Director of Lands and Survey, Mr. Dawda Fatty yesterday confirmed significant delays and uncertainty in the execution of land forfeiture recommendations made by the Janneh Commission of Enquiry.
His testimony before the Special Select Committee on the Sale and Disposal of Assets revealed gaps in record-keeping, incomplete files, and a slow, piecemeal process that has left many properties’ status unresolved.
Mr. Fatty, who oversees the Department of Lands and Survey, stated that following the government’s acceptance of the Commission’s recommendations through a white paper, his department largely awaited formal instructions from the Ministry of Lands before taking action. “We did not proceed without instructions,” he said, explaining that the Department could not act unilaterally on properties identified for forfeiture.
The Commission had identified a total of 288 properties across the country for possible forfeiture to the state. Out of these, the Department of Lands and Survey maintains records for only leased properties, with many customary lands outside its purview. At the time of his testimony, Mr. Fatty presented an updated list of 75 leased properties, acknowledging that while some titles had been cancelled, others remained unresolved due to incomplete files or pending verification.
The Director highlighted challenges stemming from the manual, paper-based system in use, noting that files had to be physically checked, cross-referenced, and updated before any action could be taken. He admitted that even when cancellations were effected, the Department sometimes received inconsistent documentation, making it difficult to maintain an up-to-date register.
Mr. Fatty also confirmed that some properties had been reallocated or sold without his Department’s knowledge, further complicating the verification process. “A lease cannot be executed without the Department’s knowledge,” he stressed, adding that gaps in the chain of communication have contributed to the uncertainty surrounding several Commission-identified properties.
The testimony underscores the complexities in implementing the Commission’s recommendations and raises questions about the government’s ability to manage and safeguard state lands effectively. The Special Select Committee has given the Department until Friday to provide full verification of all properties and their current status, highlighting the urgency of resolving outstanding cancellations.
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By: Fatou Krubally The Director of Lands and Survey, Mr. Dawda Fatty yesterday confirmed significant delays and uncertainty in the…
The post Director of Land Testifies Before The Parliamentary Committee. appeared first on .
