By Fatima Kpaka
Sierra Leone – November 6, 2025: The Minister of Social Welfare, Mrs. Melrose Karminty, is facing an ex-parte application at the High Court of Sierra Leone in connection with an ongoing civil matter involving a disputed piece of land located at Approved School in Freetown.
The motion, dated November 3, 2025, was filed before Justice Hannah Bonnie by Lawyer Enoh, legal representative for the plaintiff, Lifeline Nehemiah Projects. The plaintiff is seeking leave from the court to add both the Ministry of Social Welfare and Minister Karminty as defendants in the case, which already involves Mohamed Tunde Macarthy, Abu Bakarr Bah, and Jeremiah Turay.
The land in question is currently under a court injunction and is reportedly being occupied by Minister Karminty, who is said to be overseeing the construction of a shelter for street-connected persons with disabilities. The project is allegedly being implemented under the Presidential Task Force.
In the motion, the plaintiff requested the following orders: permission to join the Ministry of Social Welfare as a defendant in the ongoing matter; leave to include Minister Melrose Karminty as a defendant in the same action; and any other reliefs the court may deem fit and just.
The court has not yet announced a date for ruling on the application. Justice Bonnie is expected to communicate the decision once ready.
The case has drawn attention due to its intersection of land rights, government-led social initiatives, and legal procedure, with observers awaiting the court’s ruling on whether the Minister and her ministry will be formally added to the dispute.