Unlawful Dispossession of Private Land…
Lands Minister Turns Land Grabber
By Thaimu Thullah
The Ministry of Lands in Sierra Leone has been accused of corruption and injustice, which could lead to conflict if not addressed. Officials at the ministry are allegedly involved in illegal demolition of private properties, forceful seizure of lands, and other transgressions related to land ownership. TSL has received numerous phone calls reporting officials taking advantage of poor citizens by dispossessing them of their lands and selling them later to party cronies or associates. Despite media exposure, the anti-graft agency keeps playing hide and seek game to indict the Minister and some officials, who have been implicated ON CORRUPTION ALLEGATION. Thousands continue to suffer corporate bullying and political intimidation from Lands Ministry officials, using a barrage of laws to take possession of people’s property.
One victim is the Alpha Conteh family, who bought 4 acres land from Alhaji Slowe at Tokeh, but were forcefully dispossessed by ministry officials, led by notorious land grabber, Noah, under the guise that it was government-owned land. Documentary evidence verified at the Lands Ministry show that the land is a privately owned property registered in Alpha Conteh’s name and family members’. Mohamed Conteh reported that Noah had earlier requested they surrender two out of the four acres, but when this was rejected, the ministry bulldozed their fence and building materials, while armed guards prevent access to the land, allegedly under the cover of Dr Turad Senesie.
Noah reportedly collected large sums of money before grabbing the 4-acre parcel of land, using the influence of Minister Dr Turad Senesie, despite being aware that the said property was documented and registered with government offices as privately owned property. Efforts made to stop the Lands Ministry officials’ illegal actions have failed, leaving victims hopeless and frustrated, while corrupt activities go on unchecked, leading some sources within the ministry lambasting its high level corruption practices.