By Prince J Musa in Kenema
All town and section chiefs in Nongowa Chiefdom, Kenema District have been engaged in land governance. The engagement was to help prevent conflict and control the use of land in the country.
The engagement which was held on the 18th of September 2023 was to educate them on the levels of the establishment of towns, villages, and chiefdoms land committee.
Land Advisor at the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning Jobo Samba stated that chiefs supervise lands in the chiefdoms, and that land deals with people’s survival and affects everyone. He emphasized the need to engage the chiefs in order for them to execute their function in accordance with the law.
He stated that the National Land Commission Act 2022 provides levels and structures that help in the management of natural resources at the community level. Samba added that they are happy that the chiefs are willing to support them in mapping the way forward for land use.
Samba spoke on the importance of land for national development, highlighting agriculture, health care, and education amongst others
Secretary General of Council of Paramount Chiefs Sierra Leone PC Fayia Sondiful Brima Sovula IV said in Bo and Kenema urban areas have a high demand for land and where many land conflicts have led to loss of lives.
The PC stated that most of the land cases they get are a result of multiple sales of a specific land unknown to family members, noting that the new land Act will address this issue because the law states that family land can only be sold after all members give their consent to the committee.
Paramount Chief of Nongowa Chiefdom PC Sidique Matoe Kapuwa who was the host said the move came after the World Bank had suggested that one way to address land conflict was to remove chiefs from land issues.
He explained that it was against this backdrop that they assembled from across the country to take their stance that omitting them out of land issues would render the chieftaincy position meaningless.
The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning in collaboration with the National Land Commission.
Copyright (2023) Politico (20/09/23)
