By: Kebba Ansu Manneh
A meeting intended to discuss allocating a section of land in Salagi Forest Park by the Ministry of Environment to The Gambia Angola, China Holding Global Company (GACH), for storing basalt meant for distribution in the Gambian market has ended without a resolution. The government, represented by the Ministry of Environment, firmly insisted on granting the land to GACH Global.
The meeting, which involved key stakeholders, including the environmental group Gambia Environmental Alliance (GEA), the Ministry of Environment Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR), and members of Sukuta Village Development Committee (VDC), Kombo Yiruwa Kafoo, has failed to produce the desired results that will address the concerns of environmentalists and conservationists across the country.
The decision to allocate part of Salagi Forest Park to GACH Global Company for use as a Basalt Depot has raised growing concerns among Gambian environmentalists, conservationists, and the residents of Sukuta.
An insider who attended the consultation meeting at the Ministry of Environment’s conference room told TAT that all stakeholders expressed disappointment over allocating more than 6 hectares of the Salagi Forest Park to GACH Global.
Additionally, the stakeholders raised concerns about issuing a temporary permit to GACH without conducting any Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). They highlighted the neglect of the Sukuta community throughout the entire allocation process.
The consultation reached a deadlock when the Minister of Environment, Rohey John Manjang, informed the stakeholders that the temporary permit issued to GACH Global Company could not be rescinded. This statement did not sit well with the stakeholders, who insisted that the decision should be reversed and that a new site, distinct from reserved land, should be allocated to GACH to avoid encroachment by a private company.
The Alkamba Times understands that stakeholders at a recent consultation meeting expressed dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Environment for not inviting GACH Global to participate in the closed-door meeting held at MECCNAR on November 4th, 2024.
Additionally, it was revealed that MECCNAR had agreed with stakeholders to hold further consultations following the conclusion of COP29 in Azerbaijan. However, no such meeting has taken place yet.
Matarr Cham, the Auditor of Sukuta VDC, confirmed that a consultation meeting took place between the Ministry of Environment and various stakeholders to discuss the threats facing Salagi Forest Park. He stated that no consultation occurred before the site was allocated to GACH Global for basalt storage, a decision that his community has widely condemned.
He mentioned that GACH Global has begun bulldozing sections of the forest park for its intended use.
This action goes against the wishes of the people of Sukuta and the Village Development Committee (VDC), who strongly oppose allocating part of Salagi Forest Park to a private business.
Muhammed Hydara, Secretary General of the Gambia Environmental Alliance, confirmed the consultation meeting, emphasizing that his organization’s stance remains unchanged: ‘Not a single hectare of the forest park should be allocated for basalt storage or other use.’
He noted that the entire allocation process failed to adhere to due diligence. He said while the Minister of Environment has the authority to dread reserve portions of the state forest park, these powers should be based on consultations with the local community and a comprehensive environmental impact assessment, which was not conducted before issuing a temporary permit to GACH.
