By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning has on the 11th May 2023, made history for over 1,000 Okada and Kekeh riders in Sierra Leone as they become landowners through the State Land Raffle Initiative.
The program was held at the forecourt of Youyi building in Freetown.
The initiative, which was introduced in December 2021 by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, aims to distribute plots of state land in a fair and transparent manner to citizens.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning said the event is a continuous process to ensure that Sierra Leonean citizens/working class or not become land owners.
According to the Minister, the purpose of the raffle draw is for sustainable wealth distribution amongst Sierra Leoneans, catering for the welfare of all.
He went on that the President has made a historic foot print by this development, creating a platform for low incoming earning Sierra Leoneans to be land owners.
He showered praises on the President, stating that he is a man of his words
“Tok en Do”.
“The raffle draw he said would also be held at the provinces for people living there to also benefit from it”, he said.
Furthermore he said his government will not be involved in reckless spending rather will cater for the needs of ordinary citizens of the country for all to benefit.
He mentioned that the distribution of lands to Kekeh and Okada riders is to boost their morale and self-esteem of being called landowners/landlords.
He concluded his statement encouraging all to make good use of the opportunity that has been given to them.
The event kicked off with the first raffle winner of the event Morality Amoroso Fofanah, this announcement was made by the Minister.
Morality Fofanah expressed happiness over his win, as he said he had never imagined that he will become a landowner. He thanked his Excellency the President for this historic hallmark.
Isatu Dumbuya a trader who sells fish at Dove cut also expressed joy over her win; she thanked the President and Minister for making her a landowner and expressed joy in the re-election of the President as she describes him as a man of the people and a President of his words.
After receiving 2,163 applications from interested Okada and Kekeh riders, 1,000 benefited from the raffle draw making them latest landowners in 2023.
To ensure transparency and fairness, the Ministry invited representatives from the Anti-Corruption Commission, National Assets Commission, Civil Society Groups and Media to witness and monitor the process. This move is expected to promote accountability and fairness, and guarantee that the process is transparent and publicly done.
This has been the third edition of the State Land Raffle Initiative, and a total of 700 plots have already been allocated fairly to citizens during the first and second rounds of raffle draws.
With the successful implementation of this initiative, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning is contributing to the improvement of the living conditions of citizens, particularly those in the transport sector, while simultaneously promoting economic development in Sierra Leone.