Over Conteh Family Land In Tokeh… Lands Minister Accused of Double Standards
Sierra Leone’s Lands Minister, Turad Senessie, has been accused of playing double standards over the Conteh family land in Tokeh Village. This land, which was legitimately purchased by the Conteh family in 2019, has been reclaimed by Turad Senessie, using the lands reclamation policy, and dished out to SLPP cronies, who are now putting up protective structures on the Land. The Minister’s action has not augured well with some people in the SLPP, who are now calling on the President to investigate the matter.
However, when Alpha Conteh, a Sierra Leonean based in the United States, got wind that his family property has been reclaimed by the Lands Minister, he decided to travel from USA to Sierra Leone to enquire about the problem, bringing along all documentation to prove that the land is his legitimate property.
The long and short of it all, Alpha, met with the Minister of Lands and tendered his document for perusal, but the Minister did not countenance it, neither did he set eyes on the document, but said to him that ‘’all lands in Sierra Leone are state lands’’.
Within the twinkle of an eye, the land was dispossessed from the Conteh family and shared to individuals closer to the seat of power, with allegations that the first family is the largest benefactor.
Since the distribution of that land to beneficiaries, permanent structures have been erected on it by some high profile individuals, at the detriment of the legitimate owner, who is now crying for justice.
Reports received by Voice of Salone Newspaper reveal that there are several land cases piled up at the Anti-Corruption Commission against the Minister of Lands. These cases revolve around land corruption reported by members of the public against the Minister, but they are still on ACC shelves, awaiting investigation.
Sources close to the ACC intimated this press that the reason for the delay in investigation of some of the cases is because they are in Court. Sources also hinted Voice of Salone Newspaper that the Tokeh Land saga has attracted the attention of President Bio, but the President hasn’t said anything about that yet, and is said to be monitoring events as they unfold. ‘’President Bio is a man of action. He doesn’t act on impulse, but takes his time to probe into matters to get at the truth’’, our source confided.
Our source at the Ministry of Lands revealed that the Minister has been facing a difficult situation over the Conteh family land at Tokeh, as allegations suggest that he was brainwashed to reclaim the land on ‘orders from above’. This allegation is up to the Minister to prove its veracity, as it has been on the lips of many people.
