Gov’t Moves to Introduce Nationwide Land Title Certificate System

The Government of Sierra Leone is moving to introduce a nationwide land title certificate system in a major reform aimed at transforming how land is owned, registered, transferred and protected across the country.

The proposed reform, being championed by the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, is expected to strengthen land tenure security, reduce property disputes and tackle the persistent problem of land grabbing, which has affected individuals, families, communities, investors and property owners.

Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesi, disclosed the development during the Government Weekly Press Conference held at the Miatta Civic Centre on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.

According to Minister Senesi, Cabinet has already approved the proposal. However, he explained that the system will require legislative approval by Parliament before it can be fully implemented nationwide.

The Minister described the proposed title certificate as a significant step towards creating greater certainty around land ownership in Sierra Leone. Under the new system, landowners would be required to formally register their properties and obtain official documentation confirming their legally recognised ownership.

The proposed reform comes against the backdrop of persistent land disputes across the country. Conflicting claims, multiple sales of the same property, informal land transactions and allegations of land grabbing have contributed to prolonged disputes involving individuals, families, communities and investors.

Minister Senesi said the new system would provide a clearer and more reliable record of land ownership, making it easier to establish who legally owns a particular property.

He expressed confidence that land grabbing could gradually become a thing of the past once the title certificate system is systematically rolled out.

“Land grabbing will soon be a thing of the past in Sierra Leone. The title certificate will be deployed systematically to ensure clarity in land ownership,” the Minister stated.

Beyond resolving ownership disputes, the proposed reform could also have wider economic implications.

Minister Senesi explained that properly documented land would give property owners greater opportunities to use their assets to access financing. For farmers, agricultural companies and other large-scale landowners, secure land documentation could make it easier to approach financial institutions for loans, particularly where land can be accepted as collateral.

The reform could therefore help unlock the economic value of land, potentially encouraging agricultural investment, expanding productive activities and supporting businesses and individuals seeking to leverage their properties for development.

However, the success of the proposed system is likely to depend on how accessible, affordable and transparent the registration process becomes, particularly for ordinary citizens and rural communities with limited access to formal land administration services.

Building Permit Digitisation

The Minister also addressed the issue of construction, urging members of the public to obtain building permits before commencing construction work.

He explained that a building permit should not be viewed merely as a government requirement, but as an important mechanism for ensuring that property owners receive professional guidance on construction standards, suitable locations and planning requirements.

According to Minister Senesi, the Ministry has introduced a digital system through which members of the public can apply for and obtain building permits.

The initiative, he said, is intended to reduce delays, improve efficiency and make government services more accessible to the public.

The digitisation of the process is also expected to reduce the need for repeated physical visits to government offices while strengthening transparency and accountability in the delivery of land and construction-related services.

Public Commends Ministry

Civil society activist William Sao Lamin also commended the Minister for what he described as improvements in the operations of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning.

He pointed to what he described as increased orderliness and efficiency within the Ministry, while also highlighting the establishment of a bank within the institution as an important development.

According to him, the presence of a bank could make financial transactions associated with land-related services more convenient for members of the public.

Questions Remain

The proposed land title certificate system represents more than a change in property documentation. If properly implemented, it could become one of the country’s most significant land administration reforms, providing greater certainty over property ownership and creating a more reliable foundation for investment.

However, important questions remain about how Government intends to address existing land disputes, informal ownership arrangements, customary land rights and properties that have been occupied, sold or transferred without formal documentation.

There are also concerns over the potential cost of registration and whether ordinary citizens, particularly those in rural communities, will be able to afford the process.

The Government will also need to ensure that the new system is protected against manipulation, corruption, fraudulent claims and other practices that could undermine public confidence in the reform.

Ultimately, the effectiveness of the proposed title certificate system will depend not only on the passage of the necessary legislation, but also on the ability of Government to establish an accessible, transparent and credible registration system capable of reaching communities across Sierra Leone.

For now, Government is positioning the proposed title certificate as a major tool for bringing greater order to the country’s land sector, strengthening property rights and reducing the conflicts that have surrounded land ownership for years