Gambia: High Court Rejects Attempt to Stop Management of Manjai Football Park

What the report says

The Bundung High Court in The Gambia has rejected a request from the Manjai Kunda Village Management Development Committee to immediately block a group of individuals from managing and using the Manjai Football Park, also known as the Father Gough Sports Complex. The case, reported by Foroyaa via AllAfrica, concerns a wider dispute over who owns and controls the facility, which is in the Manjai/Kotu area of the Kanifing Municipal Council.

According to the report, the Committee said the park is customary land belonging to the Manjai Kunda community and that it has been excluded from management and revenue arrangements. It sought temporary orders to stop the defendants from holding events, entering into agreements, or collecting revenue, and asked for income from the park to be secured while the case continues. The defendants, led by Babucarr Jaiteh of the Manjai Sports Association, denied those claims and said the facility falls under the Council’s ownership and administration. They argued that an injunction would disrupt sporting activity and harm young people who use the ground.

Justice Isatou Janneh refused the interim relief, saying the court should not make final findings on contested ownership and management issues before trial. However, she ordered both sides to preserve the property, avoid selling, leasing or altering it permanently, and keep proper records of revenue. The decision leaves the substantive dispute unresolved while protecting the site from major changes. In general terms, the case reflects recurring tensions in some communities over local land use, sporting facilities and control of community assets.