Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Government of Sierra Leone has officially confirmed the land lease agreement between the Gento Group of Companies and landowning families from the Sambaia, Dansogoia, and Diang Chiefdoms.
These chiefdoms are located in Tonkolili and Koinadugu Districts, where a large iron ore deposit is found in the Kasafoni area.
This move follows growing concerns around land ownership and leasing in the region. The government’s decision to acknowledge the lease comes at a time when questions have been raised over how the land was acquired and whether the rights of local communities were respected.
According to parliamentary sources reported by the Standard Times newspaper, the confirmation of the lease led the government to ask Parliament’s Public Petitions Committee to temporarily suspend its investigation into a petition filed by P.C. Hon. Alhaji Musa Bamba Foray Kullo Jaslick III. The petition called for further review of the agreement and raised concerns from the affected chiefdoms.
To help address the matter, the government is planning to bring all parties together including community leaders, Gento Group representatives, and other stakeholders for an open discussion. The goal of the meeting is to find a solution that works for everyone. A report is expected to be sent to Parliament after the talks outlining the outcomes and next steps.
This approach follows the country’s key land and mining laws including the Customary Land Rights Act of 2022, the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2022, and Section 21 of the 1991 Constitution. These laws are designed to protect the rights of landowners and ensure that land use agreements are made fairly.
President Julius Maada Bio has spoken publicly about the need for fair land practices. He has warned against government officials using their positions to take land from communities. According to the president, land must remain with its rightful owners, and anyone found taking land for personal gain is going against the trust placed in public office.
He has also made it clear that land grabbing will not be tolerated and that all officials must act with fairness and integrity when it comes to land and natural resources.
Many community members see the government’s recent actions as a chance to fix long-standing problems. There is hope that open dialogue and official recognition of land rights will bring more fairness to land issues especially in areas where minerals are involved.
As preparations for the upcoming meeting continue, people across the country are watching closely. The way the Kasafoni case is handled could shape how similar land issues are managed in the future with a focus on local rights, legal protection, and open communication.
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