Africa-Press – Gambia. The director general of the Gambia Tourism Board, Aboubacarr S. Camara, appeared before the National Assembly’s Special Select Committee on Monday, offering testimony that prompted lawmakers to request complete documentation on a contentious land allocation to MOAB Investment—a company linked to Binta Sompo Ceesay, the wife of former Justice Minister Ba Tambedou.
Mr. Camara told the committee that shortly after assuming office, he uncovered what he described as a “complex history” surrounding a fenced parcel in Kotu, situated near the Duplex Junction between the former Dream Park and Palma Rima. The land, he said, had been allocated to MOAB Investment on condition that the company pay a 5 percent deposit.
“I found that a particular Kotu parcel described as the fenced land near the Duplex Junction, between the former Dream Park and towards Palm Rima, had a complex history; that land was previously allocated to Moab Investment on the condition of paying a 5% deposit,” Mr. Camara testified. He added that he knew the promoter of MOAB Investment as Ms. Ceesay and insisted that the company submit the required payment before the board could proceed. “They eventually paid,” he said.
According to Mr. Camara, he later received instructions from then–Permanent Secretary Kodu Jabang informing him that the land should instead be reassigned to the Ministry of Information and Communication. The parcel, he said, had already been leased to Rascom, an international corporate entity.
“Subsequently, I received instruction that the Minister of Lands took the position that the parcel should be reported to the Minister of Information and Communication because it has been leased to Rascom,” he told the committee.
Responding to questions from Counsel Aji Saine Kah, Mr. Camara said the provisional allocation to MOAB Investment occurred before his appointment as director general. He also clarified that the fenced area stretched from the highway at Duplex Junction toward Sky Limit.
Although the land was initially allocated to MOAB Investment, Mr. Camara said the allocation was later rescinded and the company was instead granted land in Tanji.
Counsel Kah requested that the witness produce all records related to MOAB Investment’s dealings with the tourism board. “Honorable Chair, I am applying that the witness provide all documentation that the GT Board has regarding Moab Investment and the allocation of land,” she said.
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