By: Edward Dictionary Caulker
In a landmark move, the Ministry of Lands has initiated a significant exercise to reclaim state lands, beginning with the erection of signposts on the outskirts of Freetown at Kotopima and McDonalds on July 1, 2024. This initiative aims to raise public awareness about the proper acquisition of state lands.
Yayah Kamarakeh, the Assistant Director of Lands at the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning, announced that the Ministry plans to undertake a nationwide sensitization campaign. According to him, the campaign will educate the public on the procedures for acquiring state lands and the legal purchase of land, among other related issues.
“Everyone should realize that the Western Area is the crown colony and that the crown colony starts from the urban to the rural belonging to the state,” Yayah Kamarakeh stated. He explained that the Ministry’s action to erect signposts and reclaim state lands is in accordance with CAP 116 and CAP 117 of the Unoccupied Lands Act and the Compulsory Acquisition Act, respectively. He also invited individuals claiming ownership of disputed lands to present supporting documents for their claims.
The Assistant Director of Lands highlighted that many land conflicts in the Western Area arise from village headmen engaging in land sales, despite the Tribal Administrative Act of the Colony forbidding them from doing so. He noted that the Act stipulates that village headmen should only adjudicate cases among their tribesmen and not engage in land sales.
Yayah Kamarakeh further noted that the Ministry now employs a digitized system to verify land ownership documents, urging individuals purchasing land to ensure their documents are verified by the Ministry. He assured that the Ministry would not confiscate land from anyone with authentic documentation and would guide those without proper documents on how to acquire land legally.
This initiative marks a significant step towards addressing land disputes and ensuring the proper management of state lands in the country.
