Africa-Press – Liberia. Contrary to information and documents provided by Grand Gedeh County Superintendent Alex Grant that the 500-acre of land recently leased to Burkinabe Investor, Boubou Sebu is a government owned property, the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) says the land is customary land.
Speaking at a news conference in Monrovia at the weekend, Samuel F. Kpakio, Chairman of LLA, clarified that the land in question is collectively owned by the residents of Juzon Town, B’hai Administrative District.
Mr. Kpakio pointed out that, this being a customary land, is protected under Article 32 of the Land Rights Act of 2018, which recognizes customary ownership based on traditional norms, long-term occupancy, and communal use.
The latest revelation by the Land Authority raises more questions than answers about the credibility of the Grand Gedeh County Superintendent, who recently presented some documents purported to be the land deed and imminent domain rights of the Government of Liberia during an interaction with investigative journalists.
It was predicated on these documents that Superintendent Grant had gone ahead to sign a 30-year lease agreement with Investor Boubou Sebu of the 500 acres of cocoa farmland in the B’hai Administrative District.
As inscribed in the agreement, the investor was to pay US$150,000 for the first ten years, totaling $600,000 over 30 years, all allocated to the County Development Fund.
But the contract immediately backfired and was greeted with serious public mixed reactions with several expressing opposition to the contract, thus leading to its premature cancellation by County Attorney E. Wilkins Nah on the order of the Ministry of Justice and the Executive Mansion.
And now, the LLA has also with immediate effect, and through the assistance of the Ministry of Justice, revoked the Development Grant Deed previously issued to the Grand Gedeh County Local Government for the land in question, which is located in the B’hai Administrative District.
Mr. Kpakio disclosed that this decision follows the discovery that the Superintendent of Grand Gedeh County acted unilaterally and without the necessary authorization, entered into the lease agreement.
He said such action constitutes a clear violation of Article 49 of the Land Rights Act of 2018, which governs the sale, lease, and transfer of customary land.
Startlingly, Mr. Kpakio narrated that the LLA was deceived in the process by the Superintendent and the LLA Grand Gedeh County Administrator.
‘‘Further investigation revealed that both the Superintendent and the County Land Administrator of Grand Gedeh misled the Management of the LLA during the issuance and signing of the said deed, thereby bypassing established procedures and guidelines required for granting a Development Grant Deed,’’ said the LLA Chairman.
‘‘In view of these findings, the LLA has, with immediate effect, suspended Mr. Paye Freeman, Grand Gedeh County Land Administrator, and Mr. David N. Togbasie, Grand Gedeh County Land Dispute Officer, indefinitely, pending the outcome of a full-scale investigation into their alleged roles in misleading the Authority during the processing of the said deed.’’
In a related development, the LLA said following a comprehensive administrative investigation and in accordance with Chapter 4.2.3 of the Standing Orders of the Civil Service Agency (CSA) of the Republic of Liberia, the Management of the LLA has dismissed four employees from its service.
The dismissals are based on findings of misapplication, misconduct, insubordination, and administrative malpractice, all of which constitute serious violations of the Civil Service rules, professional ethics, and internal policies governing public servants and LLA internal policy
‘‘The affected employees are Mr. Paul A. Tolbert, Assistant Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution Division, Mr. James Perkings, Case Investigator, Alternative Dispute Resolution Division, Mr. Earlyn O. Cooper, Database Officer, Alternative Dispute Resolution Division and Mr. Steve Kennedy, Assistant Director of Public Land Vetting Division.’’
But two of the accused and dismissed officials, Paul A. Tolbert, Assistant Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution Division and Earlyn O. Cooper, Database Officer, Alternative Dispute Resolution Division, has denied any wrongdoing as alleged by the LLA.
Both men have described their dismissals as a complete ‘demonic’ hunt by Chairman Kpakio, who had long opted to get them out of the entire system.
Mr. Cooper has vowed to pursue the matter through all legal means, but Tolbert plans to do some consultations with his family, friends and loved ones before any further action/decision.
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