Bonthe District, Sierra Leone – February 7, 2025 — The Sierra Leone Land Administration Project (SLLAP) has officially launched the establishment of Land Tribunals, Village and Chiefdom Land Committees in Bonthe District on Friday, February 7, 2025.
This initiative follows successful launches in Kenema and Bo Districts earlier in the week, aimed at enhancing land governance and administration across the region.
The launch event witnessed active participation from representatives of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, the National Land Commission, the National Council of Paramount Chiefs, civil society organizations, and local community leaders.
Together, they focused on creating local governance structures that will promote transparency, efficiency, and accountability in land management.
As mandated by the National Land Commission Act of 2022, Village Area Land Committees will be formed with four landowners, two land users, the village or town chief, and the section chief.
The Chiefdom Land Committees will consist of two representatives—one landowner and one land user—from each section of the chiefdom, along with the paramount chief.
Additionally, the chiefdom-level tribunals, which will adjudicate land disputes, will include three representatives.
Importantly, all committees will ensure a minimum of 30% female representation to promote gender equality in land governance.
The event featured an orientation and training session led by the M&E Specialist, aimed at equipping participants with the skills necessary for effective data collection and management.
Using the KoboCollect mobile digital data collection system, attendees learned how to gather village profiles and document committee memberships, ensuring that data is accurate and accessible.
“This launch in Bonthe District marks a significant milestone in our efforts to improve land administration in Sierra Leone,” said the M&E Specialist. “By empowering local communities with the right tools and knowledge, we can foster a more equitable land management system.”
Local leaders expressed their enthusiasm for the initiative. “These new structures will enable us to resolve land disputes fairly and strengthen cooperation among community members,” said a representative from the National Council of Paramount Chiefs.
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