The NEWS (Monrovia)
30 December 2008
Monrovia — Citizens of three clans in Nimba County are expected to gather at a forum on Wednesday in Ganta to discuss land disputes among the ethnic Mandingoes, Gios and Manos.
According to Nimba County Representative Nohn Rebecca Kidau, the forum, styled and named 'Unity Day,' would attract elders, youth and women representatives from Bain, Garr and Gbanna clans, situated in Electoral District #4.
Representative Kidau told The NEWS Monday that there were some unresolved land, ethnic and religious dispute in Ganta, among some members of the Mandingoe, Gio and Mano ethnic groups.
She said the forum, organized by a peace committee she initiated, would be characterized by speeches and the screening of a video tape brought from the Jesus Conference held in Tanzania.
She indicated that the video which illustrates religious tolerance will help the people understand the need to accept each other.
The Nimba female lawmaker stressed the need for tribal groups in the county to help promote peace, adding "President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf alone cannot settle our disputes; it is ourselves who can end our own problems."
Representative Kidau said peace is a process and that citizens from all sides of the divide have endorsed the forum and promised to attend in the name of peace.
She is hopeful that at the end of the forum, participants would come up with a resolution to unite and work together as one people.
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I am happy that the citizens of Nimba have decided to come together to discuss the land issue.I hope we do it with sincerity and after that we should think about what we will do with the land. When we keep land for decoration, people are tempted to squat on it and that is where the problem starts from. Thanks very much Madame Lawmaker for your effort.