The Sierra Leone Land Administration Project (SLLAP), the National Council of Paramount Chiefs and Civil Society Organisations have signed a partnership Memorandum of Understanding geared towards enhancing effective and efficient public engagement and education in the reformation process of the land sector in Sierra Leone.
The Paramount Chiefs also received training on the new land management reforms in Sierra Leone.
Community Engagement and Communication Specialist at the Ministry of Lands, Abdul Karim Fonti Kabia said: “The training is being organised ahead of the establishment and implementation of the Chiefdom and Village Area Land Committees (CVALC) to support the reform process”.
Sierra Leone Land Administration Project’s Coordinator, Dr. Alphajor Cham expressed appreciation to the paramount chiefs for their cooperation in the land management reform process, while commending the Minister of Lands, Dr. Turad Senesie for providing sound, visionary and professional leadership.
He said the Project aims to enhance and support effective and transparent land management system in the country, which includes legal and institutional reforms and support.
Eastern Region Chairman of the National Council of Paramount Chiefs, PC David Keili-Coomber IV, who also doubles as the Chairman PC Select Committee on Land Reforms, praised the leadership role played by the Minister of Lands, which according to him, is responsible for the cooperation by the paramount chiefs.
He assured the nation that the current set of paramount chiefs will continue to support progressive reforms in the land sector.
Barrister Eleanor Thompson led the training and interactive sessions for the establishment of the chiefdom and village area land committees.
Social and Gender Specialist, Kadiatu Dumbuya, presented a paper on the grievance redress mechanism process, while the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, Saiku Bah, presented on the reporting framework of the chiefdom and village area land committees.
Sierra Leone Land Administration Project (SLLAP) successfully conducted the maiden induction training for Paramount Chiefs (PC) in the Southern Region as part of the regional trainings for PCs in respect of the establishment of Chiefdom and Village Area Land Committees.
Paramount Chiefs in the region used the opportunity to renew their commitment towards the land reform process, while they commended what they described as the unique and professional leadership style of the Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie.
According to them, the respect the minister has accorded the PCs was responsible for the success in the process that led to the enactment of the National Land Commission Act and the Customary Land Rights Act.
