By Kadiatu Sankoh
Sierra Leone is set to host a landmark African Land Governance Conference in Freetown, bringing together policymakers, traditional leaders, civil society, and international partners from 21 African countries. The four-day event, scheduled for Tuesday, 14th October to Friday, 17th October, will focus on strengthening land governance, promoting responsible investment, and advancing gender equality in land ownership.
Dr. Alphajah Cham, Director of Policy, Planning, and Project Development at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, emphasized that protecting customary land rights is central to Sierra Leone’s sustainable development.
“The conference provides a platform for dialogue, partnership, and peer learning across the continent,” Dr. Cham stated. “Our goal is to strengthen partnerships and accelerate progress in implementing Africa’s land policy frameworks, because sustainable development begins with how we manage our land.”
He explained that the initiative builds on the adoption of the National Land Policy Framework and Guidelines, developed in collaboration with the European Union (EU), African Union (AU), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
“No country has developed without properly addressing land issues; land is the bedrock of every development process,” Dr. Cham said. He described Sierra Leone’s 2015 Land Policy as one of Africa’s most comprehensive, combining institutional reform, legal reform, and digital transformation into a single framework.
While acknowledging progress, Dr. Cham noted that policy implementation remains a challenge due to financial and technical constraints. To address this, the African Land Institutions Network was created to strengthen capacity and track reforms.
“Our challenges may differ in scale, but our goals are shared — that’s why collaboration and peer learning are essential,” he added.
Linda Kargbo, an officer at the National Investment Board (NIB), welcomed her institution’s involvement in the conference, describing it as a vital platform for promoting responsible investment and economic growth.
Established by an Act of Parliament in 2022, the NIB coordinates both local and foreign investments. “When we talk about investment, we must also talk about land, because land is at the center of every investment,” Kargbo said.
She highlighted the Customary Land Rights Act of 2022, which grants women the right to own land even after the death of their husbands. “As a woman, this conference gives me the opportunity to raise my voice and be part of the national conversation. This is a turning point for women in Sierra Leone,” she added.
John Paul Bai, Founder and Director of the Sierra Leone Land Alliance (SLLA), emphasized his organization’s role in driving land reform and advocating for the implementation of the Customary Land Rights Act and the National Land Commission Act of 2022.
He noted that the SLLA was established during the review of the 1991 Constitution to champion laws protecting customary land rights. “Our lobbying helped position Sierra Leone as one of the countries recognized under the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) network,” Bai said.
Through this partnership, the Alliance received a three-year grant to support the implementation of new land laws and strengthen community engagement. Bai added that the upcoming event would be the largest land governance conference ever held in Sierra Leone, attracting participants from 25 African countries.
He also showcased the Alliance’s innovations, including the Talking Books Application — a digital audio tool that educates citizens about land rights in Krio, Fula, Mende, Limba, and Temne. “This tool enables even those who cannot read or write to understand their rights under the new laws,” Bai explained.
In addition, the Alliance supports sustainable livelihood projects that reduce deforestation and partners with District Councils and universities to promote environmental awareness among young people. “We want to build a generation that takes environmental stewardship seriously,” he said.