After a task committee that was formed to look into the allocation procedure adopted recommendations, the Ministry of Lands, Regional Government, and Religious Affairs declared that certain land allocations in Kamalo Proper would be forfeited.
Allottees having multiple allocations in Kamalo Proper and its extension are required to give up one of their plots to the state, according to information released by Hamat NK Bah, Minister of Lands, during a news conference on Monday.
“There were 40 plots in Kamalo proper; 12 have been forfeited, and Kamalo extension 28 has been cancelled. The names of the allottees on the various allocations in Kamalo proper were as follows: Sen JEJA and Sons gave plots 4 and 5, plot 5 was revoked, intestate company investment gave plots 22 and 25, plot 25 forfeited, Hydara Foam Manufacturing was given plots 14 and 15, plot 15 was revoked, GOPI Furniture Limited was given plots 20 and 27, plot 27 was revoked, and Qtranding company limited C/O Muhammad Jah was given plots 23 and 24.
Additionally, the minister revealed that allocations to applicants who were deemed illegitimate, such as Gambisara White House (Plot 30) and Wuday Trading (Plot 3), had been withdrawn. Similarly, allocations for MAURO Farms (Plot 26) and Gamplast Enterprise Limited (Plot 16) were forfeited.
Gambisara White House Plot 30 and Gamplast Enterprise Limited Plot 16 are forfeited on unrepresented application papers. “Names of allottees MAURO farms 26 forfeited on ineligible applicants,” he stated.
He emphasised that there was insufficient proof to support the Ministry’s decision to award the Ceesay Kunda family seven compensation plots, which raised questions about potential abuse and confusion.
The minister also acknowledged the task force’s conclusions about ministry employees involved in irregularities and attested to the adoption of the recommendations against those individuals.
Additionally, he reaffirmed the task force’s suggestion that before any additional development can take place at Kamalo Proper, a thorough environmental impact study “both general and specific” should be carried out.
Hon. Bah further disclosed that, in accordance with the task force’s recommendations, the plot that was given to Modou Mbye without ministerial approval has been withdrawn.
“The recommendation to hold those officials accountable for the missing Kamalo file is hereby adopted, as is the recommendation to revoke those allocations to Allotees who submitted their personal bank statement instead of the company’s bank statement within Kamalo proper,” the minister told the media.
The minister pointed out that when he took office, the Kamalo task group was already in place. He promised the public during his first media appearance that the task force’s conclusions would be released after it was finished.
He clarified that in response to several public grievances, the Ministry of Lands received an executive order creating the task group. Its task was to examine the Kamalo layout’s land distribution procedures and determine the degree of any anomalies.
Hon. Bah also revealed that the task force finished its work and sent his office a 34-page report with 14 recommendations. To obtain legal counsel on the subject, the Ministry then sent the report to the Attorney General’s Chambers.
