By Prince J Musa in Kenema
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning has held a two-day retreat with the aim of looking at its successes and challenges and reviewing plans in line with the government’s development agenda.
The retreat was held from the 24th to 25th August 2023 at the District Council Hall Nyandeyama Road in Kenema.
The ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Abdul Rahman Musa Fofana noted that the retreat will enable them to evaluate their performance for the past years and challenges each department faced and to collectively proffer recommendations on how to address emerging issues.
He said land has become the life of citizens and that ministry officials have a role to play in building public trust.
He stated that land conflict is on the increase due to high demand and advised the ministry‘s personnel to be aware that they have an obligation to the country and should not allow personal interest to overshadow national considerations.
In his statement, the Lands Minister, Dr. Turad Senesie said the retreat will enable the staff of the ministry to improve their services to the people of Sierra Leone based on the government’s development plan with a new sense of purpose.
He said staff of the ministry are expected to conduct themselves professionally so that public confidence in the ministry will be restored.
Dr. Senesie said proper planning and beautification of cities and the country, in general, could be achieved through hard work by the lands ministry staff.
He noted that as a result of indiscipline in the land sector over the years, land leasing rights in major towns and cities were being compromised, and designated residential areas became marketplaces.
He pointed out that selling land to foreigners is an act of surrendering the citizens’ sovereignty to the foreigners, hence the need to revisit land laws.
“We have surrendered the beautiful areas or beaches for children to foreigners which is a disgrace to us as a nation,’’ the minister said.
He cautioned land owners to refrain from selling land to foreigners especially those with dual citizenship and cited how almost all vast land areas in Bo and Kenema are owned by foreign nationals.
The minister said the five government agendas are critical in putting the country in a good state and ensuring sustainable development through proper land use.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (28/08/23)
