By Saidu Jalloh
The Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie, has declared that in the eyes of the law, no Sierra Leonean currently holds formal title to land, raising urgent questions about property ownership nationwide.
Speaking at the Government Weekly Press Conference in Freetown on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Dr. Senesie said most citizens only possess conveyances — documents showing a sale between buyer and seller — which do not amount to legal proof of ownership.
“A conveyance is simply evidence of a transaction,” the Minister explained. “It does not, by itself, constitute formal legal title to the land.”
According to Dr. Senesie, because the country has never operated a comprehensive land title registration system since independence, all land across Freetown and the provinces is currently vested in the State. Individuals who occupy or claim land do so without the formal title certificate that would legally recognize them as owners.
To address the gap, the Minister disclosed that Cabinet has approved draft legislation to introduce a nationwide system of land registration and the issuance of title certificates. The bill will now be taken to Parliament for consideration.
“The new system will formally register land and issue title certificates to recognized owners,” Dr. Senesie said. “This will give people stronger legal recognition and greater certainty over their property.”
The announcement forms part of the government’s wider land-sector reform agenda aimed at bringing clarity, accountability and security to land ownership across Sierra Leone.
Officials say the reform is expected to reduce land disputes, protect citizens from double sales and fraudulent claims, and create a reliable record for investment and development.
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