By IEC Officer-Lands Commission
A team led by the Commissioner General of the National Land Commission Sierra Leone (NLC-SL), Sheikh Siddy Sowa, visited the Office of the Administrator and Registrar General (OARG) on Tuesday, 13th February 2024, with the objective of inspecting land records at the OARG, in preparation of the upcoming digitization project by the Sierra Leone Land Administration Project (SLLAP).
Welcoming the team, the Administrator and Registrar General (ARG), Saptieu Elizabeth Saccoh, accompanied by senior members of the department, including the head of Conveyance, Legal Affairs, and the Public Relations Officer, acknowledged the existing good working relationship with the NLC-SL, the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning and the Sierra Leone Land Administration Project (SLLAP).
The ARG said that SLLAP had reviewed their records about two years ago, and she gave a brief rundown of developments that her department has undertaken to protect the aged documents. She highlighted her steps since she assumed office to protect land documents. She informed the NLC team that her department has set up an archive room where newly bound land documents are kept, hence limiting access to land documents by unauthorized persons.
The NLC team comprised the Deputy Commissioner General, Commissioners of Legal Affairs, Corporate Communications and Advocacy, and the IEC Officer. After the inception meeting, the team comprehensively inspected the various documents in the registry’s archives.
On inspection, most of the files, including conveyances, statutory declaration documents, leases, and other land-related documents, were found to have been bound and serially shelved for ease of access. The NLC team was also informed of guaranteed routine surveillance, including an installed CCTV camera that helps to monitor the archive room.
In the preliminary discussions before the inspection, both parties agreed to work amicably to achieve the overall objective for which the digitization process was initiated.
The ARG disclosed that she continuously monitors the installed CCTV, and any permission to trace documents in the archive must be forwarded to her for approval.
Commissioner Sowa expressed gratitude to the OARG staff for their warm reception and willingness to share their documents for inspection. This visit heralds a crucial step to modernize land management and administration processes, aligned with the objectives of SLLAP’s digitization initiatives.
The National Land Commission will continue inspecting land documents at the Ministry of Lands, Housing, and Country Planning offices in the Youyi building and New England Ville.
Group Photo - Team of the OARG’s Office & NLC-SL Holds Discussions: (Left to Right. Public Relations Officer OARG, Daniel Johnson Esq, Head of Legal Affairs, Margaret Sumana, Commission Legal Affairs NLC, Thomas Beah Esq, Deputy Commissioner General NLC Susan Rogers, Commissioner General NLC Sheikh Siddy Sowa, ARG Saptieu Saccoh and Registration Officer, OARG Ibrahim Samura Esq).
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