By Alpha Abu
The newly constituted Committee to address land disputes in the Western Area of Sierra Leone commences sittings today Tuesday 9 March 2021 at the Bank of Sierra Leone Complex, Kingtom. This was disclosed by Lands minister Dr. Turad Senessie during the weekly media briefing organised by the Ministry of Information and Communications in Freetown. The Committee will initially start receiving complaints from the public.
The nine – member Committee is charged with the responsibility of looking into complaints by people who feel disadvantaged over access and possession of land in Freetown and the outlying peninsula. Dr. Senessie said that land disputes covering the period April 2018 to January 2021 will be looked into, and that the committee will report its findings with the necessary recommendations to government for appropriate action.
The Minister encouraged people who have grievances or complaints over land related issues to forward them to the Committee. He promised that government will then take the necessary “decisive and precise actions” to bring to a close the numerous disputes that have plagued the allocation of land in this part of the country.
The Minister had previously explained to journalists, plans by the government to shift its focus from land allocation to that of housing which includes identifying and establishing Land Banks across the country. These are to be kept for investment purposes such as the building of multi-storey car parks, public toilets and the creation of Green Reserves. He said the government would also be shifting its attention to the building of affordable housing for low and middle income people in cities and towns, in view of the high cost of rent and the congested nature of some of those places.
Dr. Senessie was appointed Lands Minister last January after his predecessor Dr. Dennis Sandi was sacked. The new minister’s maiden efforts have been largely welcomed by the public. The Lands Ministry has come under intense public criticisms over the years for its handling of land allocations and disputes especially in the Western Area. There have been violent confrontations on contested land sites that have led to deaths.
Before his appointment, Dr. Senessie was deputy Minister of Technical and Higher Education.
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