By I K Musa

The Director at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) in Kenema, Philip Ganna Conteh has during an interview with this press at his IDA office in Kenema, denied allegations of having a hand in the selling of land belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) to private individuals who are building dwelling houses and business centres on the lands.

Speaking to the District Director of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) Kenema District Philip Ganna Conteh about land owned by government and by extension the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) located at the Kenema Chinese Farm Wan Man Abu Road Kenema close to Ahmadiyya junction in Kenema City on which construction is currently going on, the Director of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) Kenema District Philip Ganna Conteh said that he went for his normal official visit to the Kenema Chinese Farm where he saw construction going on at the back of the guest house of the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) Kenema District and that went to inquire who is doing the construction on the said Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) Kenema District land and he was informed that the construction was being done by one Madam Hajaratu Balema who does business at the Kenema Shopping Plaza.   

The Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) Kenema District Director Philip Ganna Conteh reiterated that when he asked Madam Hajaratu about the way and manner in which she got the land that is owned by the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) Kenema District located at the Chinese Farm, he was told that the said land was bought from one Sheku Konneh through the land owning family and that her documents for the said land were signed by the Paramount Chief of Nongowa Chiefdom PC Kapuwa, the land owning family the section chief of Gbo-Lambanyama Chief Bockarie Kargbo and the town chief. 

He added that he formally reported the matter to the Anti-Land Grabbing Unit of the Sierra Leone Police a department responsible for investigating land grabbing issues within the Kenema District to investigate the issue who according to the Director started the investigation but stopped the for reasons known to them, adding that since then no action has been taken by the Anti-Land Grabbing Unit of the Sierra Leone Police.

Several efforts by this press to ascertain why the Anti-Land Grabbing Unit of the Sierra Leone Police Kenema could not continue the investigation about the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) Kenema District land that is being grabbed by a private individual as many people in Kenema are asking if the Anti-Land Grabbing Unit of the Sierra Leone Police collected money from the said land grabber to stop investigations.

Up to the time of going to press the case file has not been developed and the department is dodging the press. 

This press contacted Madam Hajaratu Balema for the said land that is owned by the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) Kenema District to know from her the source of the land in question. She referred this press to talk to either the Resident Minister East Andrew Ansu Fatorma about the land who in turn told this press via phone to write whatever. Efforts by this press to talk the Paramount Chief were futile.

Investigation continues.