By Joseph Momoh, D.S. Reporter
Minister of Social Welfare Mrs. Melrose Karminty has established a multi-stakeholder committee to resolve the longstanding land dispute at the Approved School Community and protect the property from illegal encroachment.
The committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Sierra Leone Police, the Law Officers’ Department, and representatives of the alleged encroachers.
According to the Ministry, the aim is to resolve the matter through dialogue, due process and respect for the law.
The move follows mediation efforts started in December 2025 by the Ministry in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme. Those talks brought together senior government officials, community leaders, youth representatives, security authorities and Lifeline Nehemiah Projects to discuss the dispute.
Speaking at the latest stakeholder meeting, Minister Karminty said the Approved School land is a public asset belonging to the Ministry of Social Welfare and must not be diverted to private interests.
She stressed that the property should be preserved for the delivery of social welfare services to vulnerable groups.
“Anyone claiming ownership or rights over government land must provide legitimate documentation and follow the appropriate legal and administrative procedures,” Karminty said. She added that the interests of the affected community and the wider public must also be considered.
The Minister pledged that her Ministry will continue working with relevant institutions to ensure the land is protected and used for its intended purpose.
“I am determined to ensure that this land is protected and ultimately utilised for the purpose for which it was entrusted to the Ministry,” she stated.
She said vulnerable children, older persons, persons with disabilities and other citizens in need of social protection deserve access to facilities that provide care, dignity and opportunity.
The renewed engagement signals the Ministry’s commitment to resolving the Approved School land dispute through institutional cooperation and legal processes while safeguarding public property for vulnerable Sierra Leoneans.
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