View GAMBIA on Wikipedia
Capital: Banjul
Official: English

Table of Contents Relevant Contact Info LAND BUYING PROCESS Establish Title Deeds Customary Tenure: Preparatory Work Process of Paperwork: Other Documents Constitution Notes Communication history

---

National Centre for Arts and Culture Ministry of Culture

Mr. Baba Ceesay
Director General for Arts and Culture
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: (220) 422 6244
Website: W
Address: Independence Drive Banjul PMB 151

Once you have decided on a piece of land that you are interested in buying you should try and first first get written verification of ownership of the plot from the Alkalo and get a Gambian lawyer to examine the ownership documents in detail.

You must remember that the procedure for purchasing from customary owners is somewhat different to that of leased land (preferable & more straight forward.)

1. Check with neighbours next to and near the land you want to acquire if they know who owns the property.

2. Go to the Alkalo of the village to determine from him or her who currently owns the land.

3. Ask the owner for photocopies of the papers for the plot, especially the receipts relating to "rates payment" for the previous and current year.

4. Check with the relevant area council who owns the property, and also show them the copies of "receipts for payments of the rates" (this would show who is the current owner of the land in a direct way since the name of the rate payer is the name of the person who is stated to be the owner of the property.)

5. After determining who the owner is check their "original ID card" or passport against the name of the "Transfer of Ownership Form".

The document that initiates the land buying activity in Gambia is the 'Transfer of Ownership' form.

There are 6 copies and these should be signed by all parties and witnessed. Before you sign this form it must be accompanied 6 plot sketch plans showing the area you wish to purchase.

The documents should then be signed by the Alkalo (local chief), Seyfo (district chief) and the relevant local government body.

Please note that a plot could be owned by a number of people from the same family called a Kabilo, so their consent to sell their jointly owned property must be given to you in writing, witnessed and signed accordingly.

The land buyer is expected to pay a fee of around £125 which should accompany the Transfer of Ownership Form and is payable at the local government level. After this stage there are other documents involved in the buying process along with other fees.

• Certificate of Occupancy
• Land Use Clearance and Transfer
• Income Tax Clearance from the sellers
• Fencing Permit
• Leasing (optional)

Once you have purchased your plot you must try and get the property fenced as soon as possible and if possible paint NOT FOR SALE on all four sides. This is to discourage anyone trying to 're-sell' your what you already own. It might be an idea also to put your mobile telephone number on the wall and build a small single room on the landed property with no frills at all.

GAMBIA LAND LAWS

---

Source: https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/gambia.htm