The Minister of Lands Housing and Country Planning, Rtd. Capt. Benjamin Davies has said that, demolition of make shift structures on the streets of Freetown will commence at the end of this month.
The Lands Minister expressed his commitment to enforcing Govt. law to discourage squatters and land grabbers from encroaching on Government Land saying “every man made power will be used to demolish the make shift structures with force.”
He noted that all structures marked with X, will be automatically demolished by the Ministry, because earlier eviction notices had been sent to all squatters and radio programs organized, to give them a final warning to quit Government reserved land and the people had been sensitized properly before resulting to this action.
He further expressed his determination to ensure that, encroachers are severely dealt with according to the law, particularly the sidewalk sellers, who are in the habit of erecting makeshift structures such as telephone booths, market tables and play station centers that give the city an eye sore look.
The minister also spoke about plans to prosecute all land grabbers that are in possession of fake land deals or other fake thumb print documents, because the land documentary system in the ministry has been improved upon, and any trace of irregularity will face justice.
The Minister intimated that, land surveyors and permit officers are currently on the field to identify illegal structures and mark them with an X, but however urged all land owners to go to the ministry of lands for verification of land deals and sites. He pointed out in an interview with Awoko that “those notorious land grabbers at Grafton will soon be taken to court for claiming over 150 acres of land” and named two Grafton elders who had already been accused for land grabbing – Pa Alimamy Bangura and Virginia Davies. He added that there is no community land therefore all unaccounted lands are meant for Government.
By Saidu Bah
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