By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
Tensions are running high in Sanyang following the revelation that the Sanyang Village Development Committee (SVDC) allocated 1.4 hectares of communal land to Negmar Group, a Turkish company operating in the country, for a 25-year lease for D3 million. The announcement, made by SVDC Chairman Abdoulie Botto Gaye during the committee’s recent Annual General Meeting (AGM), has sparked widespread outrage among residents and diaspora members, who have labeled the deal as grossly undervalued and lacking transparency.
The allocated land, measuring 14,237 square meters with a 513-meter perimeter, was reportedly approved by community elders, the SVDC, the Alkalo of Sanyang Lamin Jabang, and the Chief of Kombo South. However, Alkalo Jabang has publicly distanced himself from the agreement, denying any involvement or prior knowledge of the allocation. His disavowal has fueled concerns among Sanyang residents, both at home and abroad, who are now demanding the deal’s cancellation, calling it a “bad deal” that undermines the community’s interests.
Yankuba Ceesay, Chairman of the Sanyang Development Fund (SDF) Gambia Chapter, was scathing in his criticism. “This is definitely a bad deal. Imagine leasing a land far bigger than a football field for only D3 million for 25 years. We have companies here leasing 15×15 meters for D100,000. This is truly a bad deal,” Ceesay said. He accused the SVDC of acting against the community’s interests and announced that the SDF has petitioned the Brikama Area Council (BAC) to intervene. “The SVDC is not fit for purpose. Let them go,” he declared, emphasizing the need for accountability.
Echoing these sentiments, Saikou Camara, Chairman of the SDF Diaspora Chapter and Secretary General and Legal Compliance Officer of the Sanyang UK Association (SUKA), condemned the allocation as a clandestine move benefiting a select few at the expense of the broader community. Camara pointed out that the allocation document lacks the Alkalo’s signature, rendering it procedurally flawed. “The land allocation document does not bear the signature of Sanyang Village. It’s beyond the Chief of Kombo South’s authority to allocate lands in Sanyang,” he argued.
Camara further highlighted the deal’s financial inadequacy, noting that smaller plots in Sanyang, as small as 5×5 meters, fetch monthly rents of D5,000 or more. “D3 million for 25 years for such a mighty land is the worst deal ever,” he said, questioning the SVDC’s motives. “We’ve heard the Alkalo disassociate himself from this allocation, and the document confirms he didn’t sign it. This is unimaginable.”
In response, SVDC Chairman Abdoulie Botto Gaye denied any wrongdoing, defending the allocation as a legitimate decision made with community approval. He accused the SDF and SUKA of orchestrating a smear campaign against the SVDC, claiming their criticisms stem from envy of the committee’s achievements. “These allegations are emanating from members of SDF and SUKA who have never engaged the SVDC to clarify matters,” Gaye said. He insisted that the committee has made significant progress for Sanyang, which he believes is the real source of discontent for the opposing groups.
The controversy has exposed deep divisions within the community, with residents questioning the SVDC’s transparency and decision-making processes. Calls for the deal’s cancellation are growing louder, with many demanding a thorough investigation into the allocation process. The absence of the Alkalo’s signature on the agreement and the perceived undervaluation of the land have raised serious questions about the SVDC’s accountability and commitment to the community’s welfare.
