By Musa Conteh
The Ministry of Lands on Friday, October 10, 2025, convened a high-level meeting at the Miatta Conference Center at Brookfields on the theme: “How to Strengthen Lands Institutions for Inclusive Growth.”
The event brought together government officials, policy experts, civil society representatives, and other stakeholders from across the country to discuss reforms and strategies aimed at improving land governance in Sierra Leone.
The conference was coordinated by Emmanuel A.B. Turay, Acting Director from the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, who underscored the importance of multi-sector collaboration in addressing the challenges affecting the land sector.
He commended the Ministry of Lands for fostering dialogue and promoting inclusivity in the ongoing reform process.
Delivering his keynote address, Dr. Alphajor Cham, Director of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Lands, highlighted that strengthening land institutions is essential to achieving equitable growth and sustainable development. He emphasized the need for effective policy frameworks, institutional capacity building, and community participation to ensure fair access to land for all citizens.
In his statement, John Paul Bai, Founder and Director of the Sierra Leone Lands Alliance, called for stronger partnerships between government and civil society to enhance transparency and accountability in land administration. He noted that equitable land governance remains a cornerstone for national peace and economic progress.
Linda Kargbo, Senior Officer at the National Investment Board, also spoke on the need for streamlined land management systems to attract both local and foreign investment. She stressed that a clear and inclusive land policy environment can significantly boost investor confidence and economic growth.
As part of its broader engagement efforts, the Ministry of Lands announced plans to host representatives from 21 other African countries from October 14 to 16, 2025, for a regional dialogue on land governance and institutional reform. The upcoming gathering aims to strengthen cross-border cooperation and share best practices for inclusive and sustainable land management across the continent.
Speaking to this Reporter after the conference, several participants described the event as a major step toward advancing a national land reform agenda. “The discussions were rich and forward-looking,” said Musa Conteh, one of the participants in attendance. “It was inspiring to see stakeholders from different sectors share one vision — to make land management in Sierra Leone fair, transparent, and beneficial to every citizen,” he added.
Mr John Paul Bai concluded that with renewed commitment from participants, it would support the Ministry to modernize land administration and promote inclusive national development.
The event was widely described as successful and inspiring, reflecting the government’s continued dedication to improving land governance for the benefit of all Sierra Leoneans.
