State Land Records List Three Properties for President Barrow, Raising Questions Over Allocation Policy

By Staff Writer

A newly released list of state land allocations identifies President Adama Barrow as the recipient of three residential properties, two in Brufut and one in Fajara, raising questions about whether the allocations are consistent with the Ministry of Lands’ reported one-person, one-plot policy.

The records also identify Majum Real Estate Company Limited among beneficiaries of state land allocations, including properties in Fajara and the Kamalo Light Industrial Layout. One of the entries associated with Majum contains a reference to President Barrow, prompting further questions about the nature of the company’s allocations and its connection to the president.

According to the list, President Barrow was allocated a residential property in Brufut on August 26, 2020, under file reference SC 70/182/01/pt.VII(60).

A second residential allocation in Brufut, also bearing the president’s name, is dated September 2, 2020, under file reference SC 70/182/01/pt VII(6).

The third entry identifies President Barrow as the beneficiary of a residential property in Fajara, described in the document as the former Chief Justice’s residence. However, the allocation date and file reference for that property are unclear in the available records.

The three entries raise questions about the application of the Ministry of Lands’ reported policy limiting individuals to one state land allocation.

If the policy applies to the president and all three entries represent separate allocations, it remains unclear what circumstances or exemptions, if any, justified the allocation of multiple properties to the same individual.

The records provided do not establish whether the properties were allocated under different legal arrangements, whether any exemptions were granted or whether the allocations remain valid.

The same records identify Majum Real Estate Company Limited as a beneficiary of land allocations in two locations.

One entry, dated April 2, 2024, lists the company as a beneficiary of land in Fajara’s M Section under file reference SC 70/182/01/Pt.X/(26).

The entry contains the figure seven and a valuation exceeding D40 million, although the precise meaning of some fields requires clarification.

A separate entry identifies Majum as a beneficiary of land in the Kamalo Light Industrial Layout. The record includes the figure 23, identifies the land’s purpose as industrial, and contains the notation “c/o PR. Barrow.” The significance of that notation is not explained in the available document.

Nevertheless, the reference raises questions that may warrant clarification from the Ministry of Lands and the company regarding the circumstances surrounding the allocation.

The disclosures raise broader questions about transparency, fairness, and consistency in the distribution of state land, particularly where senior public officials are listed among beneficiaries.

Central to those questions is whether the Ministry of Lands’ reported one-person, one-plot policy applies uniformly to all applicants, including the president, and whether exceptions are permitted under existing laws or administrative procedures.

The records also leave unanswered whether the three properties listed under President Barrow’s name represent distinct grants, what consideration was paid, if any, and whether the allocations followed the same procedures applicable to ordinary applicants.

In the case of Majum, further clarification is needed regarding the company’s beneficial ownership, the basis for its allocations and the meaning of the reference to President Barrow in the Kamalo entry.

The available records do not, by themselves, establish wrongdoing by the president, Majum or officials involved in the allocation process.

However, the entries highlight the importance of public disclosure and clear explanations of how state land is allocated, particularly when beneficiaries include senior government officials or private companies.

An explanation from the Ministry of Lands regarding the allocations, the applicable policy and any exemptions would help establish whether the transactions complied with the relevant rules.

The central question remains whether the same standards governing access to state land are being applied equally to all Gambians, regardless of their political position or public office.

Here is a link to the searchable spreadsheet: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1aOQwHH23zdF-rs0QZwRjij_bQQPeo3WZ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=118097479898879941963&rtpof=true&sd=true