Kenema Chiefs, Stakeholders Meet to Address Land Management Challenges

Land for Life recently held a high-profile district town hall engagement with Paramount Chiefs and members of the Kenema District Multi-Stakeholders Platform, focusing on pressing land-related issues across the district.

The event took place at the Kenema District Council Hall on Nyandeyama Road, bringing together traditional leaders and community representatives to discuss land disputes, boundary demarcation, and other community concerns.

Welcoming attendees, Chief Bobson Abdulai applauded Land for Life for its proactive engagement, noting the organization’s efforts to address land disputes despite challenges, and called on the government to support collective action.

Berns Komba Lebbie, National Coordinator of Land for Life, explained that the dialogue aimed to strengthen good governance and sustainable land management, emphasizing that land is central to human life and development. He highlighted that the authority of Paramount Chiefs is protected under the Provinces Land Act Cap. 122, which grants traditional leaders the power to make key decisions on land issues within their communities. Lebbie stressed that the engagement was not meant to undermine the role of Chiefs but to foster collaboration and improve decision-making on land matters.

AbuBakarr Phoray Musa, Commissioner General of the National Land Commission, described the Land for Life initiative as a community-driven program focused on sustainable land use and conflict resolution. He noted that land is a fundamental right for every community and emphasized that the initiative seeks to ensure equitable and sustainable access to land while promoting peaceful coexistence.

“Many land-related disputes are currently in magistrate and local courts, reflecting the growing challenges around land ownership and community boundaries,” Musa said. He urged stronger cooperation between Chiefs and local authorities to reduce conflicts and improve land governance.

Several Paramount Chiefs shared experiences of disputes arising from unclear boundaries, overlapping claims, and historical grievances. They emphasized the need for effective mediation mechanisms and pledged commitment to working collaboratively to address land issues in their chiefdoms.

The town hall concluded with plenary discussions and feedback sessions involving the Kenema District Multi-Stakeholders Platform and the Council of Paramount Chiefs, reinforcing the shared commitment to sustainable land management and dispute resolution.