By Ibrahim Joenal Sesay
The Sierra Leone Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning, through its Directors of Surveys and Lands, has declared a parcel of land in Kotopima and McDonalds Villages, on the outskirts of Freetown, as state land.
Ministry officials have erected signposts in the area to notify the public and invite anyone with proper documentation to present it to the ministry.
Assistant Director of Lands, Yayah Kamarakeh, explained that the erection of signposts by the Ministry to repossess state lands is in accordance with CAP 117 and CAP 116 of the Unoccupied Lands Act and the Compulsory Acquisition Act, respectively.
He emphasized that the Westend Area, both Urban and Rural, starting from Songo, is part of the Grand Colony of Sierra Leone, where state authority prevails in land matters. Kamarakeh assured that private land, if verified by the Ministry, will not be taken, but any unoccupied land will be verified to determine true ownership. If the land was acquired improperly, negotiations with the government may be possible.
“With the signposts, persons claiming any land in question are informed to come forward with documents supporting their claims,” Kamarakeh stated.
Kamarakeh highlighted that most land conflicts in the Western Area arise when Village Headmen engage in land sales. The Tribal Administrative Act of the Colony precludes Village Headmen from selling land; their role is to adjudicate cases among their fellow tribesmen. He detailed the process of identifying and repossessing state lands.
The Assistant Director encouraged land purchasers to ensure their documents are verified by the Ministry of Lands, noting that the ministry now has a digitized system.
Recently, the Ministry conducted nationwide sensitization on how state lands are acquired and how to purchase land legitimately in Sierra Leone.
