Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – Banjul’s Muslim leadership has once again urged President Adama Barrow to allocate land for a new cemetery, citing the near-full capacity of the existing burial ground at Old Jeshwang. The call was made during an Eid meeting at the State House, where Alhaji Momodou Senghore, Chairman of the Banjul Muslim Elders, stressed the urgency of the matter.

“The issue of a cemetery and a mortuary are difficult subjects and often eluded in conversations, but we have no choice but to bring it to the attention of the president,” Senghore stated. “The Banjul cemetery in Old Jeshwang is reaching full capacity, and acquiring new land within Banjul is nearly impossible. While cemeteries fall under the responsibility of the city council, as religious leaders directly involved in burials, we feel it is necessary to raise this concern before it becomes an emergency.”

Senghore also raised concerns about mortuary facilities in the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) and Kanifing General Hospital, describing overcrowding and inadequate preservation of corpses. He urged the government to prioritize mortuary improvements in ongoing hospital projects.

In response, Minister of Lands and Regional Government, Hamat Bah, revealed that President Barrow had already approved land for a new cemetery, though its location is outside Banjul. However, he noted that the Banjul elders rejected this proposal, instead suggesting an alternative solution similar to that used in Mecca—exhuming bodies after a set period to make space for new burials.

“I was assigned by the Banjul Muslim community to request land for a new cemetery. The president approved a site, but since it is outside Banjul, the elders preferred an alternative method where graves are reused after a certain period, as practiced in Mecca,” Bah explained. His remark sparked murmurs among the gathering, prompting him to clarify, “This is the response I received from the elders, and I am only relaying their position.”

Hamat Bah has a message for Activist Imams

Meanwhile, Minister Bah took the opportunity to express gratitude to Supreme Islamic Council President Alhagie Essa Darboe for addressing what he described as a rising trend of politically charged sermons by certain imams.

He revealed that after consulting President Barrow, Darboe convened a meeting with the imams in question to curb the issue.

“Some imams were using their pulpits and microphones to hurl insults at the government. After a meeting with the president, I asked Alhagie Essa Darboe to engage them, and we managed to stop this tendency,” Bah disclosed.

He emphasized that religious leaders should not disguise political activism as religious discourse. “If you want to be an opposition leader, take off the religious gown and join a political party. Do not hide behind the pulpit and Friday sermons to criticize the government,” he cautioned.

“President Barrow is a god-fearing leader”, according to Hamat Bah, and Allah will expose anyone who betrays him.

Regarding mortuary space concerns, Bah reassured the Muslim elders that the ongoing construction of a new mortuary at the Farato Hospital would address the issue, promising that it would have adequate capacity to accommodate future needs.