By Makutu Manneh
The Gambian government plans to facilitate the construction of 200,000 homes over the next decade as part of an ambitious effort to tackle the country’s housing shortage and expand access to affordable housing, according to Hamat N.K. Bah, the Minister of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs.
Speaking on GRTS Radio, Mr. Bah said the government was developing a national housing program aimed at addressing a deficit he said was estimated by UN-Habitat at about 135,000 homes.
“Our deficit with UN-Habitat is about 135,000—that’s what we need immediately,” Mr. Bah said. “The problem in Gambia is the institutions are not in place as you may have in other countries. We don’t have a mortgage bank here.”
Mr. Bah said the government had already secured land for the proposed development and identified potential development partners. The proposal is now before the Cabinet, he said, as officials work through key financial and implementation questions.
Among the issues under review is the financing model for the program. Mr. Bah said a committee chaired by the vice president was examining how the project would be funded and how prospective homeowners would finance their purchases.
Officials are also considering the cost of individual housing units, with the government seeking to balance construction standards with affordability.
Another unresolved issue is the repayment period. Mr. Bah said the government believed a 15-year repayment plan would place the homes beyond the reach of many Gambians and was considering a longer repayment period to reduce monthly costs.
Affordable housing, Mr. Bah said, should be a priority for any government, particularly as The Gambia grapples with growing demand for homes and limited access to mortgage financing.
He said implementation would begin once the Cabinet completes its review of the financing, pricing, and repayment arrangements, adding that preliminary work on the project was already underway.
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