Dr. Turad Senesie
By Amin Kef (Ranger)
In a decisive move to modernize Sierra Leone’s growth agenda, Parliament has passed the National Country Planning Act 2025, sweeping aside the outdated Town and Country Planning Act of 1946 and ushering in a bold era of coordinated urban and rural development.
The landmark law, driven by Minister of Lands, Housing and Country Planning, Dr. Turad Senesie, lays out a nationwide framework for physical planning aimed at sustainable growth, climate resilience and improved living standards.
“This landmark law will stand the test of time,” Dr. Turad Senesie declared after the vote, praising lawmakers and stakeholders for backing reforms that will turn Sierra Leone’s cities greener, safer and better equipped for the 21st century.
Key provisions of the Act include:
- National planning framework to guide infrastructure, housing and public services.
- Climate action priorities including disaster risk reduction, adaptation and mitigation.
- Citizen participation in planning processes.
- Stronger enforcement to ensure compliance.
- Alignment with global goals like the SDGs, climate agreements and human rights standards.
The legislation also mandates continuous monitoring and review to keep development plans relevant and effective.
The National Country Planning Act 2025 becomes Dr. Turad Senesie’s third major legislative achievement since 2021, following the National Land Commission Act and the Customary Land Rights Act.
Other Parliamentary Business
During the same sitting, Parliament tabled key infrastructure and energy agreements, including:
- A Public-Private Partnership with Societe Djura Maritel Construction Ltd for the design, reconstruction, tolling, operation, and maintenance of the Mano Junction–Tongo–Bumpeh Road under a DFBOT model.
- A Stakeholder Engagement Report on the road project’s PPP financing by the Sierra Leone Roads Authority.
- The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission (Mini-Grid) Regulations 2025.
- The Sierra Leone Electricity and Water Regulatory Commission Act 2025 (Act No. 13 of 2025).
With this bold legislative step, Sierra Leone is setting the stage for well-planned, climate-smart and inclusive development that could reshape the nation’s physical and economic landscape for decades.
The Calabash Newspaper is Sierra Leone’s leading English‑language news platform—established in 2017 to deliver trusted coverage of politics, culture, health, and more to audiences both at home and abroad.
