By James Sandy
More than 600 residents in three eastern Freetown communities have appealed to the government to extend an eviction deadline, citing difficulties relocating during the rainy season.
The residents of Fishery, Kissy Dock Yard and Temne Town are asking the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning to postpone the June 18 deadline tied to a demolition and land reclamation exercise affecting 98 houses.
The ministry, headed by Lands Minister Turad Senesie, issued notices as part of efforts to reclaim the land, a move that residents say will affect hundreds of people, including tenants, civil servants and schoolchildren.
Community leaders say many families have lived in the area for more than three decades.
“We spent years saving before we built. When the community was swampy and unwanted, nobody came. Now that we have developed it, we are being asked to leave,” said Chief Pa Mohamed Bangura, a local stakeholder.
Residents said the government had offered compensation ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 leones per house owner and alternative land in locations including Newton, Six Mile, Carry Town, Crossing and Soja Town.
However, they said no formal documentation had been provided for the alternative land, and some of the sites were already occupied.
“When we visited those sites, the lands were already occupied. Armed groups threatened us, so we left for our safety,” one house owner said.
Residents also cited the high cost of renting and building materials, as well as transport expenses from relocation areas outside the city, as key challenges.
They said the timing of the eviction coincides with the rainy season, when housing options are limited, and with ongoing national examinations including the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
“We are not opposing development. We support government efforts, but we are asking for time to relocate with dignity,” a community representative said.
Residents estimate it could take up to four months for affected families to secure alternative accommodation.
Efforts to reach the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning for comment were unsuccessful.
