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Abdulai Dumbuya, the owner of Yenkai Resort at the Big Water Community, has shared his deep sadness following the demolition of his property by the Sierra Leone government.
His resort, along with many other buildings, was torn down to make way for the new Fishing Harbour Project at the Black Johnson Community.
The government reclaimed land in this area back in 2021 for the construction of a national Fish Harbour, a project funded through a grant from Chinese authorities. In June, the government began demolishing several properties in Black Johnson and Big Water Communities to clear space for the development.
Among the buildings destroyed were two well-established eco resorts located on the beaches of Whale Bay, Yenkai Resort and Tito’s Paradise Eco Lodge. Yenkai was declared a jewel of eco-tourism in Sierra Leone by the Minister of Tourism earlier this year.
Dumbuya revealed on an online TV program how the loss of his resort has left him feeling shocked and heartbroken. He explained that the resort was built with his life savings to support both himself and his family. Now, after the demolition, all that hard work has turned to rubble and he has received no compensation.
He said the government did not inform him beforehand about the demolition. When he confronted officials, he was told that the government had the authority to carry out the destruction without notifying him or providing any form of support.
Dumbuya said he never imagined this could happen to his own property, built on land he owns and within his own country. He also expressed concern about what this could mean for future investment opportunities in Sierra Leone, as he fears other investors might face similar treatment.
As the Fishing Harbour Project moves forward, many residents like Abdulai Dumbuya are left trying to cope with the loss of their homes and businesses, hoping for answers and fairness.
So sad to see a decent place destroyed on a poor country like ours. It would have been good to have explained to us the legal status of ownership of the land.
I have little or no sympathy for people whose building structures have been demolished.
According to the Lands Ministry, government reclaimed/acquired the land in this area in 2021. By then there were no building structures. The Ministry has confirmed not allocating any piece of land or issuing any building permit to anyone since 2021.
People simply take pleasure in behaving with lawlessness. Some people are trying to politicise the action taken by Government but there is no justification for them to do that. Who in his right frame of mind can put up structures on a piece of land that does not belong to him/her? These people are now shamelessly claiming that Government officials did not consult or inform them before the demolition. Did they consult Government before putting up structures on state lands? Furthermore, they are asking for compensations. Compensations for lawlessness? No way.
Eminent domain doesn’t mean property owners are not compensated. This is theft. They should sue. And what a shame, that the government is tearing down eco resorts to put up something that is going to destroy the environment. This is not a fishing harbour, it is a factory that will turn fish into fish feed that will be sent to China and the Chinese owners will pollute the area, like they have done in the Gambia