Sierra Leone to Host African Land Governance Conference

By Fatmata Mohamed Bangura
Sierra Leone is set to host a landmark African Land Governance Conference in Freetown, bringing together policymakers, traditional leaders, civil society organizations, and international partners from 21 African countries.
The four-day event, scheduled for Tuesday 14th October to Friday 17th October, will focus on strengthening land governance, promoting responsible investment, and advancing gender equality in land ownership across the continent.
Dr. Alphajah Cham, Director of Policy, Planning and Project Development at the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning emphasized that protecting customary land rights is central to Sierra Leone’s sustainable development agenda.
“The conference provides a platform for dialogue, partnership, and peer learning across the continent. Our goal is to strengthen partnerships and accelerate progress in implementing Africa’s land policy frameworks—because sustainable development begins with how we manage our land,” he stated.
Dr. Cham explained that the country’s progress in land governance started with the National Land Policy Framework and Guidelines, developed in collaboration with the European Union (EU), African Union (AU), Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
“No country has developed without properly addressing land issues. Land is the bedrock of every development process,” he noted.
He described Sierra Leone’s 2015 land policy as one of the most comprehensive in Africa, combining institutional reform, legal reform, and digital transformation into a single framework.
“While many African countries implement these reforms separately, Sierra Leone has adopted a comprehensive approach. That’s what makes our model unique,” Dr. Cham added.
Despite significant progress, he acknowledged that policy implementation remains a major challenge across the continent due to financial and technical constraints. To address this, the African Land Institutions Network was created to strengthen institutional capacity and monitor reform efforts.
“Every country has its own context, but our challenges are often similar. That’s why collaboration and peer learning are so important,” he said.
Linda Kargbo, an officer at the National Investment Board (NIB), welcomed her institution’s inclusion in the conference, calling it a vital platform for promoting responsible investment and inclusive economic growth.
Established by an Act of Parliament in 2022, the NIB is Sierra Leone’s primary agency for coordinating both local and foreign investments.
“When we talk about investment, we must also talk about land—because land is at the center of every investment,” Kargbo said.
She highlighted the significance of the Customary Land Rights Act of 2022, which grants women the right to own land—even after the death of their husbands.
“As a woman, this conference gives me the opportunity to raise my voice and be part of the national conversation. This is a turning point for women in Sierra Leone,” she said.
John Paul Bai, Founder and Director of the Sierra Leone Land Alliance (SLLA), underscored his organization’s role in advocating for land reform and the effective implementation of the Customary Land Rights Act and the National Land Commission Act, both enacted in 2022.
He noted that the Alliance was born during the review of the 1991 Constitution, with a mission to champion laws that protect customary land rights.
“Our lobbying helped position Sierra Leone as one of the countries recognized under the Rights and Resources Initiative (RRI) network,” Bai said.
Through this partnership, the Alliance secured a three-year grant to support land law implementation and enhance community engagement.
Bai also emphasized the importance of public education and access to information, especially for rural and illiterate populations. To that end, the Alliance has introduced the Talking Books Application, a digital audio tool that educates citizens about land rights in five local languages—Krio, Fula, Mende, Limba, and Temne.
“This tool allows even those who are not literate to learn about their rights under the new laws,” he explained.
He added that the Alliance also supports sustainable livelihood projects aimed at reducing deforestation and works with district councils and universities to promote environmental awareness among youth.
“We want to build a generation that takes environmental stewardship seriously,” Bai said.
The upcoming conference is expected to be the largest land governance event ever hosted in Sierra Leone, drawing officials, civil society groups, and development partners from 25 African countries.
With critical issues like customary land rights, gender equality, and sustainable investment on the agenda, the conference marks a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s journey toward more inclusive and transparent land governance.