On Tuesday, September 3, 2024, the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MOECC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Civic Education, convened a crucial meeting at the Western Rural District Council. The session focused on the urgent need for media involvement in environmental protection and disaster management, particularly concerning the severe encroachment and degradation affecting the Western Area Peninsula National Park.
The meeting highlighted the ongoing threat posed by the construction of both permanent and makeshift structures on vital ecosystem areas. Additionally, it addressed encroachment issues at the Tacugama Sanctuary, Leicester Peak, Guma Valley, and various at-risk mountainous communities.
Minister of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Tamba Lahai, expressed deep concern over the escalating environmental casualties. He acknowledged the government’s financial limitations in tackling these significant challenges but emphasized the importance of collective action by Sierra Leoneans to address these pressing issues. Lahai urged the media—across electronic, print, and social platforms—to actively participate in raising awareness and combating environmental degradation, including insanitation, sand mining, stone breaking, and deforestation.
Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Mr. Jawah Abdulai, emphasized that encroachment on water areas is severely restricting the expansion of vital services. He assured that the Ministry is working diligently with stakeholders to address illegal and hazardous residential developments and to uphold the Ministry’s vision. Abdulai also condemned violence against officials, particularly from individuals resisting compliance.
The meeting’s discussions revealed a deep divide between government officials and the public. While officials attributed the issues to widespread lawlessness, many attendees pointed fingers at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Country Planning for authorizing developments in restricted areas. The National Protection Authority (NPPA) Guards, village headmen, youth groups, and various community members were also cited as contributors to the problem.
As tensions rose during the debate, the need for a coordinated and transparent approach to environmental management became evident. The call for increased media involvement underscores the critical role that public awareness and accountability will play in addressing Sierra Leone’s environmental challenges.
