Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning Dr. Turad Senesie has challenged legal practitioners who continue to cite the English Conveyancing and Law of Property Act of 1881 in discussions on land law in Sierra Leone, questioning whether those relying on the legislation have actually examined its provisions.

In a statement shared on social media, Senesie said the 1881 Act was enacted in England and explicitly excluded Scotland, raising questions about its applicability to Sierra Leone in the 21st century. “Even at that, are we sure those quoting that law have read the text or content of that document with profit?” the Minister asked. He called on his “brothers” to read Chapter 41 of the 1881 legislation and prepare for further debate on its relevance.

The dispute follows remarks by Senesie at the Government Weekly Press Conference on September 8, 2026, where he stated that in the strict legal sense, there is currently no recognised landowner in Sierra Leone because most people holding land rely on conveyances rather than formal title certificates. He argued that a conveyance only serves as evidence of a transaction and does not, by itself, constitute formal legal title.

The Lawyers’ Society of Sierra Leone challenged the Minister’s interpretation, citing the Conveyancing Act 1881 and stating that existing law recognises the right of individuals to own land absolutely and to transfer title through contracts. The Society said those rights have been recognised and upheld by the courts of Sierra Leone, including the Supreme Court.

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Senesie’s comments come as the Government pursues broader reforms of Sierra Leone’s land sector. The Minister has previously described the sector as having been among the country’s most chaotic, citing a period when more than 70 per cent of court cases were reportedly related to land disputes. He said that figure has since fallen to approximately 35 per cent.

Minister Senesie maintains that true land ownership in Sierra Leone requires formal state registration, a system the country has historically lacked. The Government has enacted the Customary Land Rights Act 2022 and the National Land Commission Act 2022 as part of efforts to reform land governance and strengthen rights relating to land ownership and inheritance. Among the reforms being pursued are a draft Land Title Registration Act and Land Adjudication Act, which Cabinet approved in September 2026 and are awaiting parliamentary consideration.

The proposed framework would establish a unified National Land Register for both formal and customary land, allowing citizens to verify land ownership online and protecting them from fraudulent transactions. Senesie said the Land Management Information System to be deployed would address duplication in land records and multiple claims.

“Each and every Sierra Leonean is a Land User and not a Land Owner including myself. Whatever document you have today is only an evidence of a transaction that has taken place between yourself and an entity/government or individual. So you are a “Land User”.,” the Minister said

“When that survey plan or conveyance that is in your possession is registered and “Title Certicate” issued to you, there and then you can now say you are a land owner. You can now even use that certificate to attract huge loans from financial institutions for capital investment in agriculture, manufacturing and other large scale investments.” He added.

Senesie maintained that the reforms are necessary to keep the sector quiet and ensure peace in land governance. “We are taking steps to correct the lapses of the past and as Sierra Leoneans, we are moving to a universally acceptable practice, thus erasing the activities of landgrabbers and their associates,” he said.