The Government of Sierra Leone is advancing comprehensive reforms aimed at modernizing the country’s land administration system, strengthening physical planning, reducing land disputes and promoting transparent property transactions.
Speaking during a public engagement on the topic, “Land Reform: Where Are We?” at the Miatta Civic Centre, Youyi Building, in Freetown on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Dr. Turad Senesi outlined key measures being undertaken to transform the sector.
He said discussions on land administration had historically focused largely on land allocation, while other important responsibilities, particularly housing and country planning, received insufficient attention.
According to him, that imbalance contributed to widespread land disputes, unplanned settlements and poorly coordinated physical development in communities across Sierra Leone. The Government’s reform agenda, he explained, seeks to move beyond merely allocating land by ensuring that towns, cities and villages are properly planned and sustainably developed.
One of the central pillars of the reforms is development control, which is intended to ensure that construction projects comply with approved planning standards.
Dr. Turad Senesi observed that buildings in many communities had been constructed without adequate consideration for access roads, sanitation, drainage, electricity, water supply and other essential services.
He warned that such uncontrolled development could expose communities to serious risks, especially during emergencies when firefighters, ambulances and other emergency responders might be unable to reach densely populated areas because of narrow or blocked access roads.
Dr. Turad Senesi also highlighted the importance of the National Country Planning Act, describing it as a major step towards addressing Sierra Leone’s longstanding physical-planning challenges.
He noted that the previous legislation had become outdated and is no longer adequate to address the country’s current development needs. The new legal framework, he said, provides a modern foundation for planning communities and strengthening development control.
The reforms also place greater responsibility on property owners and developers. Dr. Turad Senesi stressed that acquiring land do not automatically give an individual the right to construct buildings without following established procedures.
He said developers must engage qualified professionals, conduct the necessary assessments, secure relevant approvals and ensure that their projects do not adversely affect neighbouring properties or the wider community.
Another major aspect of the reform programme is the decentralization of country-planning responsibilities. While the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning will continue to provide policy direction, legislation, regulations, monitoring and evaluation, local councils will increasingly oversee implementation within their respective communities.
Dr. Turad Senesi said councils are better positioned to perform that role because they are closer to residents and understand the particular development challenges facing their localities.
Capacity-building programmes are consequently being conducted for mayors, district council chairpersons, chief administrators, development-planning officers, finance officers and other personnel who will be directly involved in implementing the new planning framework.
Technology is also expected to play a major role in improving transparency and reducing fraudulent land transactions.
Dr. Turad Senesi explained that digital land-administration systems would help identify legitimate owners, track transactions and allow prospective buyers to verify property information before completing purchases. He said the technology could help prevent the common practice of selling the same parcel of land to multiple buyers.
The Government is also moving towards a title-registration system to provide stronger and more reliable proof of land ownership.
While a conveyance may serve as evidence that a land transaction occurred, Dr. Turad Senesi explained that a properly registered title would provide a more systematic and secure record of ownership and associated land rights. Legitimate owners would eventually receive title certificates through the registration process.
He said secured land titles could also provide broader economic benefits by enabling property owners to access financing from banks and other financial institutions. That would be particularly important for large-scale agriculture and business investments where verified ownership is required as security.
The reforms have reportedly contributed to improved revenue generation within the land sector. Dr. Turad Senesi said the Ministry’s revenue performance has increased considerably compared with previous years, partly because of stronger administrative systems and improved delivery of land-related services.
He emphasized that an efficient land sector could become an important source of national revenue and support the Government’s broader development priorities and social programmes.
Concluding, Dr. Turad Senesi described land reform as a long-term national undertaking requiring cooperation among Government institutions, local councils, developers, property owners and communities.
He urged citizens to understand the importance of proper planning, responsible land ownership and compliance with development regulations. He maintained that Sierra Leone must establish a modern, transparent and technology-driven land-administration system capable of reducing conflicts, encouraging investment and creating properly planned communities for present and future generations.
The engagement was hosted by Mohamed Jaward Nyallay, Strategic Communication Officer at the Ministry of Information and Civic Education. It formed part of the Government’s ongoing public-engagement programme to educate citizens about major reforms and national development initiatives.
