By: Sorie Sesay
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning has certified and licensed 18 land surveyors to practice professionally in Sierra Leone, as government moves to strengthen land administration and improve the protection of land rights.
The certification ceremony was held on Friday, September 11, 2026, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Freetown.
The event brought together the Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie, members of the Board of Examiners, representatives of professional institutions, licensed surveyors, the newly certified surveyors and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Dr. Turad Senesie said the certification of the 18 surveyors demonstrates the Ministry’s continued efforts to reform the land, housing and country planning sector.
He said government has established legal frameworks to guide land administration and protect land rights across the country.
The Minister noted that women and people from minority groups who previously faced challenges accessing land through inheritance now have greater opportunities to access and own land.
He also disclosed that the National Land Commission is currently operating in Freetown, Bo, Kenema, Makeni and Port Loko, with plans to expand its offices to other districts.
According to Minister Senesie, the training received by the newly certified surveyors will help address some of the challenges affecting the land sector, including land disputes.
He said the Ministry would continue to provide training as the land sector expands.
The Minister urged the newly licensed surveyors to remain loyal, responsible and professional in carrying out their duties.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner-General of the National Land Commission, Abu Foray, said the need for competent, professional and technologically equipped surveyors is important as Sierra Leone moves towards a modern Land Title Registration System.
He explained that effective cadastral surveying is fundamental to recording and registering land rights and, ultimately, issuing secure land titles.
Mr. Foray said licensed surveyors are critical partners in the work of the National Land Commission and are not simply peripheral to its operations.
He noted that the legal framework recognises their role, including the requirement for work carried out by Commission-accredited para-surveyors to be certified by licensed surveyors.
The Commissioner-General commended the leadership of the Ministry, particularly Minister Dr. Turad Senesie, for taking steps to increase the number of licensed surveyors available to support national land reforms.
Addressing the newly licensed surveyors, Mr. Foray said their licenses come with both opportunities and responsibilities.
He acknowledged that the surveying profession has faced public concerns over the years, but said the newly licensed surveyors now have an opportunity to help change that situation.
He advised them to be professional, ethical and maintain the integrity of their work.
Foray said the land sector has a huge task ahead, including restoring public confidence in land administration, providing greater security and certainty over land rights, reducing land disputes and making ongoing land reforms meaningful to ordinary Sierra Leoneans.
He assured stakeholders that the National Land Commission would continue to work closely with the Ministry, licensed surveyors and other partners to improve land administration across Sierra Leone.
The certification of the 18 surveyors comes at a time when the country is seeking to strengthen land governance and improve the systems used to record, register and protect land ownership.
The Ministry is expected to continue its efforts to build professional capacity in the sector as land administration reforms progress.
