The NEWS (Monrovia)
Jimmey C. Fahngon
13 August 2008
Monrovia — President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has disclosed that individuals who obtained land through fraudulent means stand the risk of losing the land when the Legislature enacts the Land Commission Bill.
She said there were some people who illegally possessed land especially during the civil war and stressed that such individuals would be dispossessed of those lands.
President Johnson-Sirleaf spoke Monday when she held a meeting with residents of St. Paul River District in Montserrado County.
The purpose of the Liberian leader's visit was to explain government's Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) to the people and solicit their views on how they want the PRS implemented.
The meeting was held at Brewerville Town Hall, outside Monrovia.
She said those who illegally possessed land should get prepared for government as it would not hesitate to evict them.
President Johnson-Sirleaf told the gathering that during the country's civil war, some individuals stole documents from the Archives Center and duplicated those documents.
"Once the land commission is established by an act of the Legislature, we will be able to deal with the many land issues in Liberia," she told residents of Brewerville.
She said the land issue was one of the most difficult problems government was faced with, revealing that the land disputes were posing serious problem in some counties where inhabitants of bordering counties were claiming land.
Also speaking during the meeting, Senator Hannah Brent who is the Co-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Land said the bill which seeks to establish a land commission is being discussed.
She assured that the bill would be enacted by the legislature to resolve the many land problems in Liberia.
Additionally, President Johnson-Sirleaf told the people of St. Paul River District about the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).
The President said government's partners have endorsed the PRS and it was important for her to meet with them to discuss what they think about the strategy.
She explained that the PRS was anchored on four pillars including consolidating peace and security, revitalizing the economy, strengthening governance and the rule of law and rebuilding infrastructure and delivering basic services.
These pillars, she said, are intended to develop Liberia and improve the living condition of the citizens.
She said if the government must successfully implement the PRS, every Liberian has to contribute towards the process.
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While I do not want to dispute the fact that there are illegal land owners in Liberia, I think what the President and most Liberians are concerned about is those people who go about selling deeded land belonging to peaceful citizens to unsuspecting or innocent buyers. This trend has to stop. The buyers themselves should also beware of buying land for example in the heart of the city especially this late day and time. You can not easily find free land in the heart of most Liberian cities. So buyers must beware. Make sure that the land being sold to… [Read Full Text]
Congratulation Ellen for your government's plan to evict illegal land owners. however, your administration has to remember that it was not only during the civil crisis that individuals illegally acquired lands. This practice goes back hundred of years by the power that be at the time. One would hope that whatever apparatus is put in place will equally investigate and have those indigenous people whose pieces of land were taking to make way for the rubber farms will have their land back in the country side. I pray that this policy will be administered to the letter… [Read Full Text]