In a press statement to media houses, the Government of the Gambia has categorically refuted as utterly false and malicious political propaganda, the allegations trending across social media platforms that it had allocated some ‘250 hectares of land to an Indian Company.’
Recently, an online platform alluding to a local television advertisement, falsely posted without verification, scurrilous and malicious allegations that the Barrow Government allocated vast hectares of land, to an unnamed Indian Company.
The press statement which was signed by the Gambia Government Spokesperson Ebrima G. Sankareh, said the online media platform failed to provide evidence to support the authenticity or veracity of their allegations; adding the piece of information from the online media platform degenerated into insults and innuendoes, maligning the character of innocent citizens. This is the rest of the press statement from the Government Spokesperson, Ebrima G. Sankareh:
”The Government of The Gambia wishes to clarify that the land in question was totally a private transaction between Mr. Nandu Rajwani, a naturalized Gambian-Indian businessman who has lived in the country for four decades. Rajwani is the CEO of EMK Stores Limited with over one thousand employees.
”Specifically, in July 2021, Nandu Rawjani entered into a private land transaction with the village community of Bissari-Madi, Foni Bondali District to the tune of 5.5 Million Dalasi. The land has since been put to use and currently employs 7 Indian agronomists and over 100 Gambian agricultural workers.
”Therefore, The Gambia Government wants to make it abundantly clear that contrary to the false report of complicity in the land deal, it was neither a party to the transaction nor involved in the negotiations, sale and transfer of the land to Mr Rawjani.
”While The Gambia Government encourages public scrutiny as evident in the newly-enacted Access to Information Law, it equally urges journalists and citizens who take to Social Media to verify stories to avoid constant misinformation.”
