18 New Surveyors Take Frontline Role in Land Reform

For many Sierra Leoneans, a line drawn on a land map can determine where a family builds a home, farms for a living, or settles a long-running boundary dispute. On Friday 11th September 2026, 18 newly licensed land surveyors stepped into that sensitive space, taking on a professional responsibility that could directly affect land rights and tenure security across the nation.

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning formally certified and licensed the professionals during a ceremony at its headquarters in the Youyi Building in Freetown, expanding the number of regulated surveyors supporting the nation's evolving land administration system.

The ceremony brought together Lands Minister Dr. Turad Senesie, members of the Board of Examiners, licensed surveyors, representatives of professional institutions, government officials, and families of the inductees.

For the new surveyors, the occasion marked the completion of years of rigorous study, practical training, and professional examination governed by the Survey Act, Cap. 128 of 1950. However, officials emphasized that certification places them at the core of Sierra Leone’s most critical development challenge: defining land ownership and resolving boundary disputes.

Director of Surveys and Lands, Mr. Tamba Dauda, commended the candidates for their perseverance while underscoring the broader impact of their work.

“Accuracy, impartiality, diligence, and integrity are not optional virtues. They are the foundation of confidence in our land administration system,” Mr. Dauda said, noting that surveyors play a essential role in preventing conflicts, guiding infrastructure, and securing land tenure.

Representatives from the National Land Commission described the certification as a timely boost to Sierra Leone’s ongoing land reform program. The commission highlighted that qualified surveyors are vital for cadastral surveying—the precise mapping and recording of land parcels necessary for modern land registration and title issuance.

Addressing the inductees, Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning Dr. Turad Senesie urged them to uphold high ethical and professional standards throughout their careers.

As the 18 surveyors enter active practice, their field decisions will directly influence communities nationwide. For farmers protecting ancestral land or families seeking secure title deeds, technical accuracy and professional integrity remain paramount.

Ultimately, the newly certified cohort adds crucial technical capacity to Sierra Leone's broader mission to modernize land governance, reduce boundary conflicts, and instil public confidence in property rights.