Gambia Tourism Board Warns Against Unauthorized Land Sales in TDA

The Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) in The Gambia recently issued a public warning against the unauthorized sale and acquisition of land within the designated Tourism Development Area (TDA) by individuals such as Alkalos and Village Development Committees. This warning explicitly states that the TDA is government land entrusted to the GTBoard for management and administration, aiming to protect the integrity of the area and legitimate investment.

This warning is crucial for maintaining the integrity of land administration and promoting legitimate investment within The Gambia's vital tourism sector. For practitioners, it highlights significant risks associated with land transactions in the TDA, emphasizing the need for thorough due diligence to verify seller authority and land title, especially when dealing with customary land authorities. Unauthorised sales can lead to costly disputes, loss of investment, and hinder planned tourism development, creating an unstable environment for investors and undermining national development goals.

Legal context for this issue involves the interplay between statutory land administration and customary land tenure systems. The GTBoard's authority to manage and administer the TDA stems from specific legislation, likely the Gambia Tourism Board Act and related land laws, which designate the TDA as government land. This statutory framework supersedes customary practices where Alkalos (village heads) and Village Development Committees might traditionally hold influence over land allocation. The warning underscores the supremacy of statutory land management within designated zones like the TDA, overriding customary practices that might conflict with national development objectives and the rule of law.

The key parties involved are the Gambia Tourism Board (GTBoard) as the issuing authority, the general public, prospective investors, and developers as the target audience of the warning. Unauthorized persons, specifically Alkalos and Village Development Committees, are identified as engaging in the prohibited activities. The excerpt does not report any specific legal actions or outcomes resulting from these unauthorized sales, only a public warning.

Attorneys advising clients on land acquisition or development in The Gambia, particularly within or near designated development zones, must conduct exhaustive due diligence. This includes verifying the legal status of the land, confirming the seller's authority through official government channels (e.g., Department of Lands and Surveys, GTBoard), and ensuring compliance with all relevant statutory provisions. Relying solely on customary authorities for land transactions in such areas carries substantial legal and financial risks, and practitioners should strongly advise against it to protect their clients' interests.