By: Haruna Kuyateh
Action Aid International the Gambia Juffureh Office and partners
Tuesday organized community interface on women land rights meeting for 100 participants drawn from communities in Noemi, North Bank Region.
Chief Momodou Chatty Cham dilated on realities on women land ownership and thanked Action Aid and ACTIVISTA for the foresight, noting that the engagement brought together key stakeholders, district tribunal court members, National Assembly Member, 12 alkalolu, women and youths to discuss about women access and control over productive land.
The move aimed to create public dialogue and adopt proper procedures of acquiring land for production, with the view to strengthen social cohesion.
Chief Cham challenged alkalolu and traditional land owners to support land rights campaign and provide proper documentation through consultation at all levels. Upper Nuimi chief uses the moment to tasks communities to preserve land for implementation of development projects, noting providing land ownership to women would contribute to benefit timely implementation of projects
Ansumana Camara Country Coordinator of ACTIVISTA described the interface meeting as crucial as it aimed to consolidate recognition on women demand note to National Assembly. He noted that land conflicts contribute to division and mistrust among families. He said the outcome of the meeting should contribute in developing positive attitude on land management governance and preserve land for posterity.
Hon.Omar Darboe National Assembly Member for Upper Nuimi call on people to seek accurate information from authorities, noting that the reserve land by government, and selling of those land are illegal and is against the law. Hon. Darboe noted that families with land should enter into legal agreement with companies or foreigners on long-term benefits for both parties.
Upper Nuimi NAM hailed the efforts of Action Aid International the Gambia Juffureh Office for the submission of women demand on control over productive land to National Assembly.
Lamin Kinteh from Ministry of Land spoke on the importance of documentation and land ownership for women is key to accelerate projects implementation and improve nutrition and income. He called on people and communities to preserve land for women to benefit from agricultural projects. Land acquisition and ownership should follow due process of the law, starting from land owners, alkalo, district chief, Kerewan Area Council and Governor’s Office to authenticate land transfer.
The meeting was held by Action Aid, Local Rights Programme (LRP) 9 in Collaboration with ACTIVISTA GAMBIA a youth led advocacy association under Action Aid. The participants weredrawn from: Hakalang Senela Kafo, Kerr Cherno and Jimbana Bolong Eco Zones. The synergy was held at Sare Alpha of Upper Nuimi in the North Bank Region.
