The Gambia has launched its first National Land Policy, with President Adama Barrow presiding over the event at the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre in Banjul.

The policy is intended to address the increasing number of land disputes, strengthen land governance, and secure tenure rights, particularly under customary landholding systems that account for much of the country’s land ownership.

It also seeks to improve transparency and accountability in land administration, curb illegal land grabbing, and harmonise statutory and customary land systems within a single national framework.

A central objective of the policy is to promote fair access to land for women and low-income communities, groups that have historically faced barriers to land ownership.

The framework also supports sustainable land management in line with national development priorities, including agriculture, housing, infrastructure and environmental protection.

The policy was developed after consultations with traditional leaders, civil society organisations, local communities and development partners, aimed at ensuring broad national ownership and relevance.

The National Land Policy is expected to guide future land reforms, strengthen dispute resolution mechanisms and contribute to social stability, investment and long-term economic development in The Gambia.

By Adama Makasuba