Registrar-General, Land Commission at Loggerheads

Established as a Corporation Sole, the OARG continues to serve as the central repository for registers, instruments, and records in Sierra Leone. It operates through seven main sections, including the Lands Registry, Business Registry, Marriage Registry, Intellectual Property Registry, Estates, Gratuity, and Legal Section. In addition to its head office in Freetown, the Office now operates four regional branches in Makeni, Bo, Kenema, and the recently opened Port Loko office, enhancing nationwide access to its services. Mrs. Matina Gbenda currently serves as the Administrator and Registrar General.

During the reporting period, the OARG hosted a landmark conference for heads of Intellectual Property Offices from across Africa. This event, the first of its kind in Sierra Leone, aimed to develop strategies for ensuring that innovators benefit from their creative works, thereby contributing to national economic growth. This initiative aligns with ongoing efforts to position the OARG as a key player in protecting intellectual property rights.

In its push for modernization, the Office launched a fully interactive website, www.oarg.org.sl, providing the public with timely access to information and services. The ICT section has made progress in digitizing records, uploading a significant number of documents onto a new server, laying the groundwork for full digital transformation by the end of 2025. This shift also supports the OARG’s objective of reducing reliance on paper-based systems, which are vulnerable to damage and loss. The publication of marriage banns has also helped curb attempted bigamy by verifying the marital status of intending couples.

Despite these developments, the OARG continues to face serious challenges. A major area of concern is the ongoing contention over institutional mandates, particularly with the Land Commission, which has reportedly attempted to assume responsibility for land processing and registration without the necessary legal amendments or coordination. This conflict has raised concerns about duplication of functions and institutional overreach.

Another persistent issue is understaffing. With the volume of work increasing across all sections and regional offices, the Office’s current staffing level is inadequate. As a temporary measure, volunteers have been engaged, but there remains a critical need for more qualified legal personnel, especially in Makeni, Kenema, Bo, and Port Loko.

Digitization efforts, while underway, are hampered by limited resources. Most documents are still processed manually, leaving them susceptible to damage. The completion of the digitization process by the end of 2025 remains a key target, but requires substantial financial and technical support. The Office has requested assistance from the Ministry of Finance, particularly under the new World Bank-funded project, to support this transition and replace the current server.

Another significant challenge is the late disbursement of funds. Allocated resources are not received on time, which negatively affects the Office’s ability to function efficiently. Moreover, unlike other government institutions, the OARG does not receive a percentage of the revenue it generates, limiting its financial autonomy. The current arrangements with the National Revenue Authority and commercial banks have also proven cumbersome for customers, with verification and payment procedures often delayed, and payment services closing as early as 2pm.

To address these challenges, the OARG has made several recommendations. These include a call for the Office of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice to clarify the mandates of institutions involved in land and registry matters, the recruitment of additional staff by the Public Sector Reform Unit, and timely disbursement of funds by the Ministry of Finance. The Office also calls for a review of obsolete laws governing its operations, support for the digitization process, the establishment of VPN connectivity with the Ministry of Lands, and reform of the NRA’s work plan to improve efficiency.

The Justice Sector Half Yearly Report emphasizes that the OARG remains committed to delivering quality services despite its challenges. Its continued progress is seen as essential to improving access to justice, strengthening institutional capacity, and enhancing the overall efficiency of the justice system in Sierra Leone.

By Mohamed Kamara