By Mohamed Fofanah.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has concluded site verifications to identify authentic landowners affected by the proposed fish harbor project at Black Johnson Beach in the Freetown peninsular on Wednesday.
The Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Ibrahim Turay said the Government will continue its engagements with the affected property owners with legal documents following the previous verifications which were held last year.
Mr Turay said constructing a proper fish harbor is part of diversifying the country’s economy as part of efforts to increase revenue collection, and create jobs for citizens.
He said the people are “well consulted” and are “happy to part ways” with their lands to facilitate the project.” He said: “We have asked landowners to prove claims to the area that falls under the project” to avoid any possible trampling on anybody’s right.
He assured curious landowners that the Government will do environmental due diligence to tackle any potential environmental hazards and ensure sustainability of the harbor.
The Deputy Minister said Black Johnson is the most suitable place for the construction of the fish harbor since it is not yet a well-built area.
Speaking at a meeting with the community stakeholders on Wednesday, State Counsel from the Law Officers’ Department, Yusif Isaac Sesay announced that 62 people submitted documents including signed survey plans, deed of gifts, and conveyances to lay claims on the area that falls under the 252 acres of land for the project.
He announced that all those landowners who submitted documents to the Law Officers Department had been informed to be ready for their acclaimed properties to be verified. He noted: “We want to ensure that no authentic landowner is left out of the verification process.”
He some claimants submitted authentic land documents including title deeds while some others submitted “mere unsigned affidavits and site plans.” He said those who submitted unsigned documents will not be considered for verification because they do not fall within any of the categories for compensation by the Government of Sierra Leone.
On the first verification exercise on October 28, only 15 affected landowners had submitted legal documents including title deeds, deed of gifts, and conveyances to the Ministry, claiming legal ownership for affected properties, Isaac Sesay told community stakeholders and landowners at a meeting that preceded that verification process.
The Head of Policy and Ethics at the Anti-Corruption Commission, Joseph Kangaju said the ACC has been present in the verification process to ensure transparency and fairness in the activities of all parties involved at the Black Johnson fish harbor project.
For the unsigned affidavits some claimants said the Headman of the community prepared for them, Edward Kakpindi Samuels said he is not aware of any of those announced by the State Council during the meeting.
But the project surveyor for Black Johnson, Alhaji Mohamed Rabieu said all those who are legally entitled to pieces of land at the proposed site will be compensated by the Government of Sierra Leone.
Jonathan Kojomama, a member of the Black Johnson Land Owners Association is opposed to the project because “we want to protect our beach which is an ecotourism area.”
He has asked for an environmental impact assessment survey on the area, and the $55 million grant between the Chinese Government and Sierra Leone to make public to them.
