Sierra Leone: New Lands Minister to set up complaints Committee on land issues

By Ishmael Sallieu Koroma

New Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie has in a press statement on Monday said, his Ministry will soon constitute a complaints Committee of eminent persons to receive and investigate complaints from persons who feel disadvantage in land allocation between April 2018 and January 2021 urging those aggrieved by the decisions and actions of the Ministry of Lands, during the aforementioned period to make their complaints to the Committee when established.

 According to the release, the lands Ministry assured the public that all decisions and actions taken by the Ministry during the April 2018 to January 2021 will remain valid and unchanged until government decides otherwise, adding that his Ministry, will report the findings to the government for appropriate action.

“The details of the Committee including terms of Reference, Composition and operational modalities will soon be made known to the public. All persons who feel aggrieved by the decisions and actions of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning during the aforementioned period are advised to take their complaints to the Committee when established,’ ’the release said.

The New Lands minister therefore urged all citizens especially aggrieved parties to remain calm while Government puts in place the appropriate redress mechanisms for a transparent, fair and equitable process for land administration. 

“The Public is here by informed that a moratorium has been placed on allocation of all State Lands for private use in the Western Area with immediate effect. During this period government will only allocate or sell State Land for investment purposes or to diplomatic missions.’’