Gambia Government Sells Ndure Cham's House For D600,000

Lebanese Gambian Bourgi Is the New Owner Of The EX- CDS Home

By Staff Reporter Malick Demba, Banjul

The Gambian Government has sold the house belonging to the erstwhile Army Chief of Defense Staff Colonel Ndure Cham, the Freedom Newspaper can reveal. The house which is situated in Bakau, very close to the former Daily Observer offices, has been bought by a prominent Lebanese Gambian businessman Bourgi, sources here said.

Mr. Bourgi, is a  wealthy Lebanese Gambian, who owns shopping centers, Real Estates and a bakery shop opposite the Daily Observer erstwhile offices in Bakau. He bought the house for D600,000 Dalasis.  The sale was witnessed by two Gambian nationals- both of whom are staffers of Mr. Bourgi’s business outlet.

The Minister of Works and Infrastructure sealed the deal and could not be done without the presence of the witnesses, sources added. In What appeared to be a seizure in absentia of Cham’s private property, the sale was done in a grand style, as the Government secretly disposed of the property without the owner’s knowledge.

Colonel Cham is wanted in connection with the March 2006 abortive coup, which led to the secret execution of former NIA Director General Daba Marena and four others. He is believed to be residing in a neighboring country.

The new owner of the property Bourgi has begun  demolishing the old house. He wants to erect a mighty building in the area. Mr. Cham’s family were compelled to vacate the premises. They were never notified about the sale of the house. The new owners just moved in one morning and asked them to leave. The Cham family has relocated to a new area, sources said. Bourgi is constructing a massive house on the property.

During the sale deal, Borugi raises some legal issues pertaining the safety of buying the former CDS’S house, but was assured by the Works Minister that there wouldn’t be any legal problems in the long term. His lawyer was present when the sale was being finalized.

President Jammeh’s recent move to sell Ndure Cham’s house without the due process of the law is sending mixed signals across the country. Many believed that in the absence of a court order, it would be  illegal for the Government to sell Cham’s house.

ENDS: 12/20/09