Report: Regional Consultative Meetings on Land - Land Commission

This report is a result of a two days consultative
meeting on land reform organized
by the Governance Commission, Republic
of Liberia. The meetings were held at the
S. K. D. Complex, Paynesville, Liberia from May
7-8, 2008. Over 250 participants/stakeholders and
other people from various locations in Montserrado
County attended. Four (4) major topics/issues were
discussed during the meetings. They included:
• Promoting equitable and productive access to
the nation’s land, both public and private;
•
•
•
Promoting security of tenure in land and the
rule of law with respect to landholding and
dealings in land;
Promoting effective land administration and
management;
Promoting investment in and development of
the nation’s land resources.
The meeting was officially opened by the Vice
President of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph N.
Baokai, while the closing ceremonies were held
with the presence of the Chairman of the Governance
Commission, Dr. Amos Sawyer.
Meeting Objectives
Land being a sensitive issue and a potential source
of conflict, the consultative meeting was intended
to get views/opinions from individuals, groups as
a way forward for the possible establishment of a
“Land Commission” for the country.
Meeting Strategy
Opinion leaders, including women, men, and
youths from Montserrado County/other stakeholders
were brought together under one roof and
divided into four (4) groups for discussions on the
four (4) main topics. This was followed by a plenary
session where issues and recommendations
from the groups were highlighted and presented.
Meeting Outcome
As a result of the 2 days consultative meeting, participants
were able to put forward sound recommendations
intended to jump start the process for
setting up a “Land commission” for the Republic
of Liberia.
TOPIC I: Promoting equitable and productive
46 Governance Commisssion - Liberia
access to the nation’s land, both public and private
Question: How do you get land?
Responses:
• Apply to government for vacant lot;
• Conduct survey;
• Obtain deed;
• Deed to President for signature;
Question: What are the legal ways to acquire private
land?
Responses:
• Investigate;
• Obtain permit from Lands, Mines & Energy
Ministry;
• Conduct survey;
• Obtain deed, along with copy of mother
deed;
• Probate deed in probate court
Question: What are the illegal ways to acquire
land?
Responses:
• By discovery, conquest & inheritance;
• “Build quick, quick”;
• By hook or crook behavior (i.e. backdating of
deeds);
• By squatting;
• By planting tree crops over a long period of
time;
• By filling up swamp/low land areas
Question: Are you able to get enough land for
your farm, tree crops, houses and businesses?
Responses:
For farm
• Depends on location (rural/urban);
• For rural (yes), large land is available;
• For urban (no), very small land available.
For tree crops
• Rural: (available but conditional –allowed for
people from within the village, town or com-