Updated
February 15, 2004
Gambia Tourist Support - Reg Charity No 362/2003
Land Purchase in Gambia
Fact Finding
If you have had a problem buying land - let us know
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I hope readers can help us to discover the extent of official compliance
with crooked land deals or help us identify how the Gambian system can
be tightened up to stop it happening.
At least it should provide some warnings to anyone purchasing land in Gambia.
Comments to GTS
We know all about the problems of entrusting Gambians with money to make land purchases or set up businesses etc. No different to trusting anyone with money - some people are honest and some are not, (the consequences can painful, but this item is not about these private deals).
It has been reported to us, that things can go seriously wrong even if you follow the established local Gambian procedures, we at GTS have discussed this with local Alicalo's, the Director of the Gambian Land Authority, National Assembly officials and local lawyers.
The process is clear enough and should be reliable
- First - find your land
- Negotiate a price - the person who has found the land for you, generally gets a cut of the price from the seller if you are buying privately
- Visit the local Alicalo (every Gambian community has one)
- Get a land transfer document - the Alicalo being the local representative can ensure the land really is for sale and is owned by the person who claims to be selling it.
- Take that paper to the Area Council Offices - they will provide official transfer documents - but only if you have the Alicalo's paper.
- The Area Council will send out a surveyor who will measure the land and produce a sketch plan, this is signed and stamped.
- The person selling the land must pay the government a tax on the land sold - this should be paid by the seller but is often expected from the purchaser.
- All the relevant papers should then be signed by the Alicalo and by the district Chief.
- Once signed by them - you pay the seller for the land and they will provide you with the papers and the receipts for the money paid for the documents - who pays for those documents should be part of the negotiation you make for the land.
- Remember that once money is paid to anyone in Gambia - it is very unlikely to be recovered if the deal fails to go through; So if the seller says they want money for the paperwork BEWARE, until the documents are complete - the deal can fall through and any money outlaid is lost.
This process is clear and logical enough, it should be reliable - but it seems it can be abused and land is still sold fraudulently, leaving the seller parting with their money but not receiving the land they thought they had purchased.
If you know of a corrupt land purchase deal in The Gambia or have been a victim yourself - please contact GTS - we are currently putting together a paper on the problems to establish a reliable fact sheet to help people avoid such problems in the future.
If you can help - Please do so - your information will be kept strictly confidential if you wish.
We want to establish if there is a pattern to the problems, either in a particular area or at a specific stage in the process.
If you have lost money and/or land then we would hope to help clear up the matter and where possible get back your money, the land or get some sort of compensation, but apart from that, this will provide a support group forum to share the problems and take action or make changes..
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