Africa-Press – Sierra-Leone. The Acting Director of Fisheries at the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Sheku Sei, has responded to allegations made by affected land and property owners at Black Johnson, where demolitions have recently taken place.
Speaking on an online TV program, Sheku Sei said the demolition was not a sudden move by the government, but a step that followed instructions from the Chinese authorities, who have plans to build a fishing harbour on the site. According to him, all due process was followed before the action was taken.
He said the government of the People’s Republic of China told Sierra Leone to clear the land to prepare for the construction of the harbour. He explained that the Chinese side needed enough space to remove and install machinery. The Acting Director further said that Sierra Leone has signed a “postage measure agreement,” which states that any country with a coastal area that wants to benefit from China’s fishing assistance must have a fishing pond.
Sheku Sei added that once Sierra Leone has this pond, the country could earn up to 59 million US dollars a year through government revenue. At present, he said Sierra Leone earns less than 10 million US dollars, due to not having the needed facilities in place.
He stated that the process followed legal steps and was guided by the Law Officers Department, which assigned legal counsel directly to the Ministry of Fisheries. He also mentioned that several meetings and community engagements were held in advance of the demolition. The Ministry of Environment was also involved and conducted a trait analysis of the area.
Sheku Sei said even landowners living abroad, including in America, Jamaica, and Spain, were informed through their caretakers that their land was going to be affected by the harbour project.
Earlier this month, videos shared online showed structures being taken down at Black Johnson Beach. Some residents and landowners have raised concerns, saying they were not properly informed or compensated.
The Ministry of Fisheries maintains that the project will move forward and says affected landowners were informed through meetings, public engagements, and communication with their caretakers.
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