Gov’t promises 3-day land lease under new digital system
Minister Bah made the disclosure while responding to the report of the Select Committee on Regional Government, Lands, Ombudsman and IEC on the Performance Audit Report on the Management of Land Registration and Documentation at parliament on Tuesday. He said the ministry had inherited a system where people waited for years to obtain their lease documents, with some files taking three, four or even five years to process. “I found when people have been waiting for five years, three years, four years of getting their lease documents that is now a thing of the past, since we took over,” Minister Bah told deputies. He said the ministry was currently releasing an average of 50 files a week as it works through the backlog. “Some of them have been there for years and ages. People need to have their documents, because you need to have ownership that should not be a problem,” he said. According to the minister, once the new programme is fully in place and all required documentation has been completed, applicants will no longer have to wait for weeks to receive their leases. “With the new program, in three days you can have your lease, when everything, the documentation on the devices is complete. So you will no longer wait for a week to get your lease documents,” he said. Minister Bah also acknowledged problems within the existing system, including lost files and delays in processing applications. “I mean, every Gambian became frustrated with the system sometimes you have lost files, you come, they tell you your file is lost, not seen. I’ve been a victim all of us have been victims of that,” he said. He said digitalisation was now being pursued with support from the World Bank, with contracts already awarded and the process nearing completion. The minister said regional offices were also being developed, including one in Wassu in CRR North, to bring land services closer to communities and reduce the need for people to travel to Banjul for leases and other documentation. He said the reforms are part of wider efforts to improve land management and make services more accessible to Gambians.
Black News 
Minister Bah made the disclosure while responding to the report of the Select Committee on Regional Government, Lands, Ombudsman and IEC on the Performance Audit Report on the Management of Land Registration and Documentation at parliament on Tuesday.
He said the ministry had inherited a system where people waited for years to obtain their lease documents, with some files taking three, four or even five years to process.
“I found when people have been waiting for five years, three years, four years of getting their lease documents that is now a thing of the past, since we took over,” Minister Bah told deputies.
He said the ministry was currently releasing an average of 50 files a week as it works through the backlog.
“Some of them have been there for years and ages. People need to have their documents, because you need to have ownership that should not be a problem,” he said.
According to the minister, once the new programme is fully in place and all required documentation has been completed, applicants will no longer have to wait for weeks to receive their leases.
“With the new program, in three days you can have your lease, when everything, the documentation on the devices is complete. So you will no longer wait for a week to get your lease documents,” he said.
Minister Bah also acknowledged problems within the existing system, including lost files and delays in processing applications.
“I mean, every Gambian became frustrated with the system sometimes you have lost files, you come, they tell you your file is lost, not seen. I’ve been a victim all of us have been victims of that,” he said.
He said digitalisation was now being pursued with support from the World Bank, with contracts already awarded and the process nearing completion.
The minister said regional offices were also being developed, including one in Wassu in CRR North, to bring land services closer to communities and reduce the need for people to travel to Banjul for leases and other documentation.
He said the reforms are part of wider efforts to improve land management and make services more accessible to Gambians.
