By: Fatmata Grace Okekearu, Bo City
Members of the Bo District Multi-Stakeholders Platform, with funding support from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) through its implementing partner Green Scenery, on Friday, 30 January 2026, held a one-day stakeholders’ feedback and validation meeting in Bo City.
The engagement brought together representatives of local authorities from all sixteen chiefdoms in Bo District to review, reflect on, and harmonize key documents related to the establishment of Village Area and Chiefdom Land Committees. The initiative is aimed at strengthening land governance and improving land dispute resolution mechanisms across the district.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Mohamed A. S. Koroma, Commissioner of the National Land Commission (NLC) in Bo, described the engagement as the culmination of a series of follow-up activities on earlier assignments designed to ensure the effective formation and functionality of land governance committees at the grassroots level.
Dr. Koroma explained that in 2022, the Government of Sierra Leone enacted two landmark legislations the Customary Land Rights Act and the National Land Commission Act which introduced significant reforms in land management and administration nationwide.
He noted that the twin land laws provide for the establishment of Village Area and Chiefdom Land Committees, with mandates to support government efforts in the prevention and resolution of land disputes, as stipulated in Sections 42 and 61 of the National Land Commission Act. He further emphasized that the laws require a minimum of 30 percent women’s representation in all land committees, highlighting the importance of inclusivity and gender equity in land governance.
According to Dr. Koroma, the laws are designed to promote responsible land ownership, access, and use at village, chiefdom, and district levels, while decentralizing land administration to reduce conflicts and enhance transparency.
Presenting an overview of the project, Mr. Joel Kamara, FAO National Project Coordinator, stated that FAO is implementing a project titled “Promoting Inclusivity for Local Tenure Governance,” which focuses on supporting land reforms in Sierra Leone. He explained that the project aims to complement the twin land laws by strengthening their enforcement, implementation, and management at the community level.
Mr. Kamara disclosed that Green Scenery submitted a concept to FAO to support the establishment of District Multi-Stakeholders Platforms, which serve as mechanisms for mediating land disputes through Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) systems.
Also speaking at the meeting, Mr. Swahibu Koroma, Bo District Coordinator of the Office of National Security (ONS) and Chairman of the District Multi-Stakeholders Platform, reaffirmed the relevance of the twin land laws in supporting the National Land Commission to effectively manage and consolidate land-related issues.
He noted that the establishment of Village Area and Chiefdom Land Committees would significantly reduce the workload at the district level and ensure that land disputes are resolved promptly at the lowest possible level, thereby promoting peace and social cohesion within communities.
The meeting concluded with the presentation and review of stakeholders’ reports, followed by constructive discussions and inputs aimed at strengthening the proposed frameworks for land governance in Bo District.