District Multi-Stakeholder Platform (DMSP) Review Land Governance, Peace in Gbondapi
Alhaji Mashalat Sheriff The District Multi-Stakeholder Platform (DMSP) in Pujehun District has successfully concluded its quarterly follow-up exercise in Gbondapi, focusing on evaluating community progress, addressing ongoing land disputes, and reinforcing women’s land rights.
The quarterly initiative brought together platform members and local community stakeholders to review the implementation of active development projects, gather direct feedback, and pinpoint critical areas needing intervention and support.
According to DMSP Chairman Sonny S. Leigh, a primary driver of the visit was to obtain firsthand updates on sensitive land governance matters in the region.
“The follow-up visit was aimed at reviewing progress made, gathering feedback from community members, and identifying areas requiring further attention and support,” Chairman Leigh stated. He noted that the team specifically assessed the resolution status of a previous land dispute involving Madam Amie Kemokai and the wider community, while also opening inquiries into an emerging land conflict between the Kallon and Kamara families in Gbondapi.
Chairman Leigh emphasized that consistent field monitoring and cross-sector coordination remain essential to ensuring development initiatives effectively respond to the community’s land governance needs.
The DMSP serves as a vital umbrella body in Pujehun District, uniting local authorities, religious figures, and civil society actors to foster peaceful dialogue, advance community engagement, and protect vulnerable groups—particularly regarding women’s land ownership and rights.
The delegation visiting Gbondapi featured key platform leadership and conflict resolution specialists, including:
Sonny S. Leigh, Chairman of the DMSP
Frederick Mohamed Jaward, DMSP Secretary
Alhaji M. Bawoh, Inter-Religious Council Representative
Sylvernus Joseph Kpana Karim, District Facilitator for the Partners Initiative for Conflict Transformation (PICT)
The successful exercise in Gbondapi marks another milestone in the platform’s continuous mission to monitor community developments, resolve local grievances, and promote sustainable peace and equitable land management across Pujehun District.