By Edward Vamboi
The League of Democracy Advocates (LODA), which is a Civil Society Organization that is advocating for the less privileged, enhancing the rule of law, calling for adherence to democratic principles and compliance with the constitution of Sierra Leone on the 2nd June 2021 convened a press conference at the Sierra Leone Association of Journalist (SLAJ) Hall on Campbell Street, in Freetown, during which it stated that it has observed with grave concern the increase in land disputes, especially in the Western Rural District resulting into bloody conflicts warranting the intervention of the Police.
It was highlighted by the Executive Director of LODA, Ibrahim Sorie Dumbuya, that in some cases fatal causalities have been caused through the intervention of the Police and even by thugs, who are often proxies for the respective landowners.
“Most often the victims of such disputes have been tenants and in some cases caretakers,” he stated further maintaining that land disputes have taken center stage in the courts and even when matters are in court allegations of court orders being issued to one party to take possession of the disputed property have been the case leading to many aggrieved parties losing faith in the judicial process.
He said the loss of confidence in the process has often resulted in to violence as the aggrieved party tries to resist the taking over of the said property without a fair hearing and judgment from the court on the matter, exercising undue advantage against one party by well- connected individuals.
The Executive Director said as an institution they are calling on the Judiciary to expedite speedy trials of all land disputes especially the recent and ongoing one at Allen Town Kiosk, involving Ina Wray Vs Yaya Mansaray and others furthering that representatives of both parties must observe due diligence in the conduct of their activities in respect of the said matter as well as other cases.
He also called on the Government, particularly the Ministry of Lands, to partner with the court in order to resolve land disputes, using the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), to ease the burden on the courts and to avoid long standing trials of land disputes saying such have the potential to create the wrong impression about the Judiciary.
He concluded that LODA will continue to monitor all land disputes with keen interest with relating to the protection of the human rights of innocent occupants, taking into consideration the victims of the recent on-going land disputed matters.
