By Sulaiman Jalloh

Sierra Leone’s Parliament through the committee on higher education chaired by honourable Joseph Williams Lamin of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) representing the people of Bo District  has on Monday, November 11, 2024, ruled that the property situated at Jomo Kenyatta Road in Freetown belongs to Milton Margai Technical University.
The ruling follows months of engagements and negotiations by the Parliament of Sierra Leone between the Brookfields hotel management, the Milton Margai Technical University (MMTU) including the Ministry of higher Education and the ministry of Tourism.
In his ruling, Hon. Williams said that section 97 Act. No 6 of the 1991 constitution of Sierra Leone pursuant to section 16 of the Polytechnic Act of 2021 and the University Schedule Act pages 44 and 45, noting all the evidences before the committee proved that the embattled place is legally owned by MMTU.  ” I have perused documents tendered by both parties, Milton Margai Technical University MMTU is the rightfully landlord of property situated at Jomo Kenyatta Road, Freetown in the Republic of Sierra Leone,” the chairman ruled
Hon. Lamin furthered  that the aforesaid university to maintain all class rooms for students venture and urged the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education, Tertiary Commission to develop an agreement with the New Brookfields Hotel owners if possible the tenancy agreement. He advised the university to adequately support the student union rehabilitation work within campus with a speedy conclusion.
Speaking to journalists after the chairman’s ruling, Abdul Malik Sawaneh  student union president MMTU expressed joy about the ruling while thanking Members of Parliament, adding for the past months, it has been a difficult moment for the university while stressing the focus of the union. “We are law abiding people and  we are  ready to work with the ruling even if  others decides to do otherwise,” head of student union assured
It could be recalled that both parties, Milton Margai Technical University and New Brookfields Hotel were claiming ownership of the property.