By Kebba AF Touray
A recent Technical Assistance report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revealed that difficulties in land acquisition are hindering private investment in The Gambia.
The report, which examines the current status and challenges of land management, highlights that The Gambia operates under a dual land tenure system. While all land is officially classified as public land, approximately 90% is under customary tenure. The IMF noted that rapid urban expansion, agricultural land growth, deforestation, and forest degradation have placed increasing pressure on the country’s already scarce land resources.
“Disputes over land are common, and difficulty in land acquisition has thwarted private investment. As The Gambia anticipates a doubling of its population by 2050, appropriate management of land resources will be crucial to enable climate-resilient development and renewable energy deployment,” the IMF stated.
The report emphasized that successful climate adaptation and mitigation efforts depend on effective land management. Clarity in land tenure and appropriate land management are crucial enablers for multiple sectors, including agriculture, forestry, renewable energy, and coastal management.
“Current gaps in land management are key drivers of agricultural practices that lead to deforestation and contribute to a lack of private investment, including in the renewable energy sector, agriculture, water management, and coastal management,” the IMF added.
In The Gambia’s agricultural sector, the report noted that individualized land rights are associated with a higher propensity to invest, leading to increased yields. However, overlapping legal jurisdictions and weak enforcement of property rights present significant challenges, particularly in coastal management, where the lack of national data on property values complicates cost-benefit analyses of coastal protection measures.
The IMF further pointed out that in the forestry sector, there are no well-defined regulations regarding permits for clearing forests for agricultural use. Additionally, the lack of clarity on land tenure poses significant constraints for renewable energy investments, a challenge that the report explores in detail in its mitigation section.
On key policy gaps and opportunities, the report acknowledged that The Gambia is taking important steps to strengthen its legal, policy, and institutional frameworks for land management. The country’s legal framework is currently guided by several key legislations, including the Lands Act of 1980, the Physical Planning and Development Control Act of 1990, the Survey Act of 1990, the Land Acquisition and Compensation Act of 1991, and the Land Commission Act of 2007.
The IMF noted that land administration responsibilities are primarily handled by the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs (MLRGRA). However, other institutions, including the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Natural Resources (MECCNAR), and The Gambia Tourism Board, also play crucial roles in land management.
To address these challenges, the IMF recommended that the MLRGRA, in collaboration with relevant ministries, conduct comprehensive land surveys and develop a cadastral map.
“MLRGRA should work with relevant line ministries to complete the development and adoption of the National Land Policy, clarifying roles and responsibilities of relevant agencies and outlining national priorities to strengthen land management,” the IMF concluded.
