Africa-Press – Gambia. The Ministry of Health has issued a public statement addressing recent media coverage of a rental dispute involving one of its facilities, describing the landlord’s conduct as “unprofessional” and disruptive to essential health services.
In the statement released this week, the ministry emphasized its adherence to agreed payment terms and expressed concern over the landlord’s actions, which it says have interfered with critical administrative operations.
“The Ministry of Health wishes to clarify recent reports about a rental dispute involving one of our facilities, as well as the subsequent media coverage of this issue. We recognize and value the important role of the media in informing the public, but we feel it is necessary to provide a fuller account of events to ensure fair and accurate reporting. At the core of this matter is a landlord who, regrettably, has behaved in a manner unbecoming of a professional relationship,” the statement reads.
According to the ministry, the landlord made verbal threats, including the use of abusive language and even alleged threats involving black magic, directed at senior officials. Despite these actions, the ministry stated that it has continued to act in good faith throughout the tenancy.
Clarifying the financial timeline, the ministry said it had agreed with the landlord to pay the 2025 rent in two installments. The first installment, covering January to June 2025, was paid promptly. The second installment, covering July to December 2025, was scheduled to be paid in June, in line with both internal financial procedures and the prior agreement with the landlord.
“The first installment, covering January to June 2025, was settled promptly. The second installment, for the latter half of 2025, was scheduled for payment in June, by our standard procedures and prior agreement. While the Treasury Department’s processes sometimes require time, the payment was ultimately made within the agreed-upon timeframe,” the ministry noted.
However, before the second installment could be finalized, the ministry said the landlord unlawfully locked the premises in violation of the Rent Act of 2024, which prohibits landlords from demanding rent payments in advance.
“This premature action disrupted critical official administrative functions. The ministry deeply regrets any inconvenience caused to the public by this unnecessary escalation. We take this opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to providing affordable and accessible healthcare to all Gambians. Our public health facilities continue to offer essential services, including C-sections, dialysis, and maternal and child health care, at costs significantly lower than private providers. While we acknowledge the challenges we face in delivering these services, we are proud of the progress made over the past decade in our pursuit of universal health coverage,” the Ministry of Health said.
The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to providing accessible and affordable healthcare services, highlighting the vital role of public health facilities in delivering critical services such as dialysis, C-sections, and maternal and child healthcare—often at costs far below those of private providers.
“The Ministry of Health wishes to clarify recent reports about a rental dispute involving one of our facilities, as well as the subsequent media coverage of this issue. We recognize and value the important role of the media in informing the public, but we feel it is necessary to provide a fuller account of events to ensure fair and accurate reporting. At the core of this matter is a landlord who, regrettably, has behaved in a manner unbecoming of a professional relationship,” the ministry said.
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