BUILDINGS AT OLD YUNDUM DEMOLISHED 
 
By Kebba Camara 
 
Last Monday it was alleged that some personnel from Physical Planning Department and a team from the Police Intervention Unit came to the new settlement at Old Yundum and demolished some newly built houses and fences. 
 
When this reporter was informed and visited the scene, he saw most of the rubbles of the houses and fences which were demolished. When this reporter approached one Haji Horeh Tunkara for explanation he told his reporter that one Kebba Khan came to his premises that very Monday and inspected the whole environment. He explains that the said Kebba Khan was accompanied by some officials of the Physical Planning and PIU to carry out the demolition. 
 
When he was asked why the place is demolished, he said the said Kebba told them that the government needed that place to build a hospital. Mr. Tunkara said the size of his compound is 50m x 64m and that it costs him a lot of money to develop the place. 
 
"What is even more frustrating is that we were not served with any notice, we were just called and informed that our places were demolished .We also were quick to write a letter to the office of the president, office of the solicitor general, the NIA, office of the Governor, the Paramount Chief and all district heads in Western region, informing them about our disappointment. We also wrote a letter to the office of lands and survey to inform them about the demolition." Mr. Tunkara said some letters were also disbursed to the office of the IG and office of Local Government and to the Commissioner. Most of the people affected told this reporter that they got the land from one Mamud Jadama and added that they are with all valid documents for their compounds. 
 
Also speaking to this reporter an old woman who is in her 70s said she is responsible for constructing a house for his son (Ngala Mboge) who is not in the country and that compound is also in the list for demolition. The old woman called for the right authorities to intervene because what they spent in the newly constructed house is almost D 300,000. She added that she is yet to explain to her son about the decision of the physical planning. The old woman added that work at the house is presently at a halt because any moment the said house will be demolished. She said they are currently renting and were planning to move to the new house next month. 
 
Ebrima Sonko, Amadou Jallow, Saikou Jallow and others who were all affected expressed similar sentiments. 
 
The community of Old Yundum are complaining about the demolition which took place last week. Most of them are wondering who issued the directives for the demolition exercise to take place. This reporter visited the Director of Physical Planning to get a clue but was referred to the Ministry of Local Government and Lands for explanation.
 
Editor’s Note
 
Foroyaa will raise the concerns with the Ministry and the said Kebba Khan. The Government needs to establish the Lands Commission so that aggrieved parties would be able to lodge complaints for proper investigation before their buildings are demolished. An Independent and Impartial Oversight institution is necessary to preside over land disputes and avoid such devastating experiences where people invest their life time earnings to build houses only to have them demolished.





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