By Elias Bangura
Vice President of Sierra Leone, Dr. Juldeh Jalloh, yesterday 15 September 2022 handed over land documents to 500 land raffle winners at Bureh Town, in the Peninsula outside Freetown.
VP Juldeh Jalloh who deputized President Bio at the ceremony said it is the responsibility of government to give land to its citizens – and this is exactly the wisdom behind the initiative of the land raffle draw.
The draw was conducted on 12 May 2022 where 500 winners emerged, with each winning a two town plots of land. And this land has been carefully selected in order for it to be a prime land that is worth millions of Leones, something the winners of this second raffle by their careers will take years to save for them to be able to buy.
He said President Bio is a grandfather who has given a valuable gift to his grandchildren.
Minister of Lands and Country Planning, Dr Turad Senesie, said the land should not be sold but should be developed by the winners, and the ministry has ensured that all the necessary amenities and social services form part of the new community.
He said this ceremony is recognition of the contribution of public sector workers to nation building who have sacrificed their time, their energy and their lives.
Minister of Western Region, Nabeela Tunis, on behalf of her newest constituents, also praised the government for this laudable initiative.
There was jubilation and deep appreciation from the winners who were drawn from nurses, teachers, police officers, civil servants, the army, fire force, prisons, and the press.
“On behalf of the Bongay Family, I thank his Excellency the President, the Honourable Vice President, Minister of Lands Dr Turad Senesie, and all at the staff at the Lands Ministry, for such a wonderful gesture of providing lands for us. May Allah continue to bless you all. Much appreciated,” said Kamanda Bongay, Head of the Sierra Leone Fire Force.
The high point of the ceremony included the distribution of the title deeds to the winners, and the identification of the various plots to the winners.