By Saidu Jalloh, Reporter, Daily Scope
Freetown, Sierra Leone Health Alert Sierra Leone has accused the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning of negligence and weak oversight, linking the ministry’s actions to the repeated collapse of buildings in the capital.
In a statement issued this week, the civil society group said the frequent incidents in Freetown stem from poor enforcement of construction regulations, inadequate monitoring of building sites, and the issuance of permits to contractors it described as unqualified.
According to Health Alert, the ministry grants building permits to individuals and firms across the country but fails to conduct sufficient due diligence. The group alleged that some applicants without professional qualifications are being approved to undertake construction projects, raising safety concerns.
The organisation also raised alarm over the use of substandard materials and poor building practices, saying these factors have contributed to structural failures that have claimed lives and injured residents and passers-by. It further warned that construction continues in high-risk areas such as waterways, drains, and gutters, despite warnings about environmental hazards and public objections.
Health Alert claimed that some ministry officials may be colluding with unqualified contractors in the permit process and called for an immediate investigation by the appropriate authorities.
The group is urging the government, Parliament, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Land Commission to conduct a comprehensive review of the building permit system and the wider regulatory framework governing construction. It recommended stricter enforcement, including a requirement that all developers engage certified engineers approved by relevant bodies.
Health Alert said non-compliance should attract a halt to construction and possible prosecution of both contractors and property owners.
The organisation also issued a correction, apologising for previously misidentifying the Ministry of Works instead of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning in an earlier statement.
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