"At the same time, we witnessed public resources being used for putting up gated mansions. It is unclear why His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah chose to issue an Executive Order to expropriate land and real estate resources intended for mixed income housing development, vested in the Sierra Leone Housing Corporation by the SALHOC Act of 1982 and release them for the purpose of developing high income housing."
By Olu Beckley, USA.
During the past 10 years of SLPP rule their leaders never paid much attention to affordable-housing issues. Homes of low and middle income families were bulldozed, making way for the “nouveaux riches”. Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) were given a few packets of nails and iron sheets and left on their own to rebuild their lives in war-torn communities. Even the housing project for paramount chiefs could not be satisfactorily completed.
Our brothers from the village are returning to the big cities and the number of slums are increasing. In neighborhoods from Regent to Goderich to Lumpa, it is tough enough for a family to find an affordable place to live, and even when they do, they are being pushed out because of market forces or government policies. The number of families displaced as a result of the “broke ose” strategy is unprecedented in the country’s housing history.
At the same time, we witnessed public resources being used for putting up gated mansions. It is unclear why His Excellency Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah chose to issue an Executive Order to expropriate land and real estate resources intended for mixed income housing development, vested in the Sierra Leone Housing Corporation by the SALHOC Act of 1982 and release them for the purpose of developing high income housing.
One would conclude here that either the President was ill advised by the Attorney General on the legality of such an action, or that the case for possible alternative courses of action that would satisfy the intent of the Act were not succinctly made by the SALHOC Board of Directors and the Ministries of Lands and Housing.
It would be recalled that in 1982, the government of Sierra Leone established the Sierra Leone Housing Corporation in an effort to improve the living standards of the people. A list of assets as stated in the schedule of the Act and in subsequent amendments thereto were vested in the corporation for the execution of its duties “provided that more than ten percentum of the resources of the corporation, shall be for high income families and no more than thirty percentum for middle income families, sixty percentum being used solely for low income families”.
The President by Executive Order released hundreds of acres of land vested by law and meant for the production of low and middle and high income housing units in representative proportions for the exclusive development of high income gated communities for the “nouveaux riches”. While applauding NASSIT for its initiative and drive, the end does not justify the means.
If our laws are anything to go by, the president can only alter the laws of Sierra Leone subject to ratification by Parliament either by an enactment of Parliament, or by a resolution supported by the votes of not less than one-half of the Members of Parliament. Sec 40 (4) of the Sierra Leone Constitution 1991. Thus this transfer of assets ordered by the President was not ratified by the out-going parliament and will need to come to the new Parliament when it convenes later this year
Secondly, the original intention of the vesting Act (serving the interest of the majority of Sierra Leoneans) has been compromised by the President’s unilateral action.
The project at Goderich, when completed will contain 200 executive houses in a mixed use gated community. Single family houses are priced from $250,000 to $335,000. Payment requirements include 40% on application; 40% when the house is at roof level, and 20% at closing. If these units were to be sold on a mortgage basis, monthly repayments, (PI only) principal and interest only over 30 years at 8% rate of interest (with no down payment) will range from $1,834 to $2,458. Taxes and insurance will see loan repayments ranging from $2,300 to $3,000 per month. Assuming a 30% affordability coefficient, then only households with incomes ranging from $91,200 to $120,000 per year can afford these houses.
Can our teachers/nurses/doctors/civil servants/traders afford the mortgage payments? Why should a government use public lands to subsidize high income housing, or use public resources to generate private sector profit for shareholders?. Why the preferential/presidential treatment for the Regiemanual project? We are confident and assured that NASSIT is looking for viable investments and appropriate returns, as well as protecting public money, and just out of curiosity, it would be interesting to know who the local shareholders of Regiemanuel SL.Ltd are!
Thirdly, when housing developments are undertaken for an exclusive income group, they have the effect, if not the express intention of drawing lines of segregation. It is like saying, “teachers, drivers, police officers, nurses, can teach our kids, drive us to our offices; or nurse our ailing parents, but they are not fit to be our neighbors. We will use all the state lands now to build our mansions and will find some cheap land in far away places, 20 or 30 miles away from their work places to house them when we have the money”.
The big question in the heat of the elections, is whether the SLPP leaders are really committed to change as stated in their party’s 2007 manifesto, or whether they’re just making political statements. The manifesto lays a lot of emphasis on private sector reform, hoping that economic growth and privatization will provide the opportunities for all Sierra Leoneans to realize the dream of a decent home at a price they can afford. Why should Sierra Leoneans trust the SLPP now after being ignored for 10 years, when grant funding and the international goodwill was available to help develop the institutional capacity and the signature programs (slum upgrading; sites and services core housing; micro-finance for housing; public/private sector partnerships) for national shelter delivery. Why should the people’s interest take second position? Why only now?
Photo: Dr. Alfred Bobson Sesay, Sierra Leone’s Lands minister. He is commonly known as the Broke Ose(House Demolition) minister.
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