Land Reforms: Evaluating the SLPP’s 2018 Manifesto Commitments: A 25-Question Review
By the Sierra Leone Live Team
Welcome to Part 1 of our in-depth review of the Sierra Leone People’s Party’s (SLPP) “Improving Lands, Housing, and Country Planning” manifesto promises. This review aims to provide a comprehensive and unbiased evaluation of the SLPP’s success in realizing the ambitions outlined in its 2018 “New Direction” Manifesto. Your active involvement as citizens of Sierra Leone in this process is a crucial aspect of our vibrant democracy.
The evaluation for Part 1 focuses on “Lands” and presents you with a set of 25 carefully curated questions that aim to guide you in assessing whether the SLPP has met its 2018 manifesto commitments in this sector. Each question helps you reflect on the specific targets of the SLPP’s 2018 manifesto, focusing on ‘yes’ or ‘no’ responses to maintain clarity and simplicity.
The questions for Part 2, which deals with “Housing and Country Planning”, are available in a separate post.
 Land Policy and Management
Manifesto Quote: “Implement the National Lands Policy 2015 ensuring justice for all. Improve the management of state lands to ensure equitable distribution.”
- Was the National Lands Policy 2015 implemented to ensure justice for all?
- Were improvements made in the management of state lands for equitable distribution?
Institutional Capacity Building
Manifesto Quote: “Develop the capacity of the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning to enable it to establish branches in all district headquarter towns.”
- Was the capacity of the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning developed?
- Were branches of the Ministry of Lands and Country Planning established in all district headquarters towns?
Land Disputes and Legislation
Manifesto Quote: “Set up a Lands Court to help speed up the trial of land cases. Improve the legal framework for leaseholds or gifts of land in the Provinces.”
- Was a Lands Court set up to speed up land case trials?
- Were improvements made to the legal framework for leaseholds or gifts of land in the Provinces?
Housing and Land Banks
Manifesto Quote: “Build affordable housing around the country for the underprivileged. Create Land Banks to ensure availability and affordability.”
- Were affordable houses built around the country for the underprivileged?
- Were Land Banks created to ensure land availability and affordability?
Land Use and Building Regulations
Manifesto Quote: “Improve the enforcement of land use planning and building regulations.”
- Was enforcement of land use planning improved?
- Were building regulations improved?
Digitization and Codification of Land Tenure
Manifesto Quote: “Digitize through the use of GPS all plots, streets, and roads around the country. Codify land tenure through a GIS Cadastral system.”
- Were all plots, streets, and roads around the country digitized using GPS?
- Was land tenure codified through a GIS Cadastral system?
Urban Development and Planning
Manifesto Quote: “Large new and undeveloped areas to be pre-designed with standard lots and access roads prior to selling allowing for the provision of electricity and water services. Enforce land use zoning system.”
- Were large, new, and undeveloped areas pre-designed with standard lots and access roads prior to selling?
- Was a land-use zoning system enforced?
City Beautification and Modernization
Manifesto Quote: “Envision the modernization and beautification of the Western Area and the City of Freetown 20 years into the future.”
- Were steps taken to modernize and beautify the Western Area and the City of Freetown?
Land Tenure Reform
Manifesto Quote: “The SLPP government will facilitate a national debate on land tenure reform consistent with the demands of a modern economy.”
- Was a national debate facilitated on land tenure reform?
Discrimination and Legislation
Manifesto Quote: “Revise legislation to remove the “non-native” Sierra Leonean nomenclature and its attendant discrimination.”
- Was legislation revised to remove the “non-native” Sierra Leonean nomenclature and its attendant discrimination?
Investment and Legal Redress
Manifesto Quote: “Structure the Land Policy so as to increase the scope for investment and provide for means of having legal redress.”
- Was the Land Policy structured to increase the scope for investment?
- Were means for having legal redress provided?
Land Availability
Manifesto Quote: “Ensure land is available to all Sierra Leoneans anywhere in Sierra Leone.”
- Was land made available to all Sierra Leoneans anywhere in Sierra Leone?
Miscellaneous
Manifesto Quote: “All private and state lands will be plotted as multiples of the standard lot.”
- Were all private and state lands plotted as multiples of the standard lot?
Manifesto Quote: “Flyovers will be built in key locations, and critical road works in the City widened.”
- Were flyovers built in key locations?
- Were critical roads in the City widened?
Manifesto Quote: “Create parking and green spaces around them.”
- Were parking lots and green spaces created around them?
Manifesto Quote: “Improve the legal framework for leaseholds or gifts of land in the Provinces in order to make them amenable for collateral security and investment.”
- Was the legal framework for leaseholds or gifts of land in the Provinces improved to make them amenable to collateral security and investment?
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to each of you for your active participation in this vital democratic process. Your input is invaluable in maintaining the accountability and transparency of our government. We encourage you to continue with this spirit of active citizenship as we move on to Part 2 of this review.
Thank you once again for your time and involvement.
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