By Foday Moriba Conteh
Dr. Turad Senesie, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, delivered a compelling call to action during the commencement of the Country Planning Rules and Regulations Validation workshop at the Sierra Palms conference hall on Tuesday, May 7, 2024.
In his address, the Minister emphasized the urgent need for stakeholders to make crucial decisions regarding the future development of towns and cities. He highlighted pressing issues such as unplanned communities, blurred boundaries between residential and commercial areas, and inadequate demarcation for religious and residential zones leading to increased noise pollution.
Dr. Senesie voiced concerns about the challenges in enforcing existing laws, citing a disregard for regulations and their lack of relevance in the 21st century context. He stressed the imperative to halt these negative trends and emphasized the importance of fostering orderly and well-planned communities.
Recognizing the hurdles faced by the ministry, the minister outlined a series of reform initiatives aimed at improving the country’s land administration system. These include enhancing staff capacity, implementing the Sierra Leone Land Administration Project for transparency and efficiency, establishing the National Land Commission, and enacting the Customary Land Rights Act.
Additionally, digital administrative practices have been introduced to streamline operations, enabling online applications for state land, lease rent payments, and building permits. A land raffle allocation system has also been introduced to promote planned communities.
Dr. Senesie underscored the necessity of reviewing and strengthening existing laws to align with contemporary needs and ensure sustainable development. He called for collaborative efforts from stakeholders to overcome resistance to change and work towards creating well-planned and harmonious communities.
The workshop, attended by Government officials, urban planners, civil society representatives, and other key stakeholders, aims to validate and refine the country’s planning rules and regulations. Its goal is to foster an environment conducive to sustainable urban development, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for all residents.
Expected outcomes include actionable recommendations to address identified challenges and pave the way for a more organized and efficient urban planning framework in Sierra Leone.
