Heighten Land Grabs…
AADC Skills Training Center Under Threat
By Mohamed Konneh
The Animated Area Development Committee (AADC) Skills training center at Mayemi, Funiture junction in Freetown is under threat with encroachers and land grabbers almost succeeding in taking over the land and properties.
The community is on the verge of losing the skills training center meant for the training of young people including women and girls.
Stakeholders in the Community have raise series of concern over the situation as powerful men within the community are now fighting hard to take over the center and land for the construction of dwelling homes.
The skills training centre operated by the Animated Area Development Committee (AADC) is on the verge of collapse as encroachers bent on taking over not only the land but the properties as well meant for youth development. This skills training center was constructed by Actionaid Sierra Leone for the training of young people so as to move them out of poverty.
Ahmed Gibril Koroma is the Program Coordinator at AADC who explains the difficulty in accessing the centre they use to operate.
Mr. Koroma said young people within the Mayemi community and elsewhere have benefited a lot from this center adding that the skills training comprise tailoring, carpentry, welding and many more activities for the empowerment of community people.
‘This is an Actionaid community project and that the land and property was left behind by the NGO after empowering the communities to take over. Land grabbers have taken over the land and have even go to court seeking for an eviction,’ he said.
Mr. Koroma said just few days ago they received instructions through a court order for eviction something they have now challenge.
‘This is a community project and that the property and land belongs to thirty communities. There is no way we could just allowed somebody from nowhere because he has money to come and take over this land and property that is benefiting the community especially young people, Mr. Koroma said.
Mr. Sam Bayor the skills training coordinator at AADC also lend his voice on the situation noting that the training centre has empowered young people within the community and beyond.
‘This skill training center was constructed for the development of young people but now hangs in the balance with land grabbers taking over the land. Those of us who use to work in this center are now out of job because of the current situation,’ he said.
Mr. Bayor noted that the Animated area development committee comprises thirty two communities and that each community sends representative for empowerment purposes.
‘With the land and skills training center under threat, trainees, trainers and those gainfully employed by this center are now out of reach some of whom have lost their jobs,’ Sam Bayor explains further.
This is deprivation and that this current situation may jeopardise the future of these young people said Steven Bayor one of the beneficiaries.
He said the fight against drugs like Kush and many other vices may not succeed if center’s of this kind is allowed to vanish as a result of land grabbers.
‘I am a beneficiary as I was taken from the street to come and learn in this training center. I am now a qualified welder and this skills is now helping me to take care of my family and immediate needs,’ Steven said.
He said he is now out of job because of the present situation while calling on government and the ministry of youth to come to their aid.
One of the most dangerous issues in Sierra Leone today is the aspect of land grabbing. Most community lands have been illegally occupied or encroached upon by squatters.
Situation of this kind in most cases have been met with violent resistance from squatters and encroachers whose respect for the rule of law and order is non-existent.
Investigations conducted during a visit to the skills training center revealed that structures had been erected creating tension within the community. Beneficiaries of this center are now calling on government and relevant stakeholders to come to their aid.
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