Highlighting the significance of the engagement, the Sub Regional Manager ACC, Wilfred Bangura told participants that, the purpose of the meeting was to inform stakeholders about corruption related issues in land acquisition and ways of curbing them.
Momodu Sittar, senior investigation officer asked participants to discuss around how land is allocated and the processes involved. He further admonished them to perform their functions diligently and efficiently.
Mr. Gabriel Abu, Acting Town Planning Officer said his Ministry became fully functional in 2015 as the Ministry of Lands, Country Planning and the Environment. He said his functions include among others to plan for development (planning access to land, plot, surveying, signing of survey plan etc). He said, they are on sensitization for the people of the township to know that Kono is now a city. He said he is going to work on Government land demarcation.
Mr. Kai Sumana, from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Infrastructure made a distinction between departments in both ministries. He mentioned that their responsibilities are almost interwoven but there are differences in the mandates. He said the land tenure system is different in Kono. He said in Kono the Kono people own the land and the chiefs are the custodians. He said as a Ministry, they are encountering lots of problems regarding land usage. He mentioned building a fuel station in a densely populated area and the risk involved. He made clear distinction between communal land and private land. He cautioned that surveys should be done by a licensed surveyor.
Speaking on behalf of Tankoro native administration, B. M Daramy, Clerk, reiterated that they do not encounter problems when they allocate land for mining purpose. He said when it comes to land issues, everybody can prepare local plans creating problems. Mr. Daramy cautioned that stakeholders in both ministries should work concertedly with local authorities.
Questions and answers climaxed the occasion.
