6 Governance Commisssi<strong>on</strong> - Liberia Acknowledgements
The c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s that are summarized in this report were c<strong>on</strong>ducted as <strong>on</strong>e comp<strong>on</strong>ent of the Governance Commissi<strong>on</strong>’s work <strong>on</strong> land and property rights. In 2006, the Governance Commissi<strong>on</strong> (GC) was mandated to investigate issues regarding land rights and tenure in Liberia and to recommend acti<strong>on</strong>s that would address the problems regarding land tenure. A <strong>Land</strong> Issues Steering Committee was established under the leadership of the Governance Commissi<strong>on</strong> and its Chair, Dr. Amos Sawyer. This committee identified the need for the GC to reach out to the wider populati<strong>on</strong> to hear their views <strong>on</strong> land and property rights. As land policy was <strong>on</strong>e of the issues addressed in the Poverty Reducti<strong>on</strong> Strategy, funds for the c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s were provided by the World Bank from its Poverty Reducti<strong>on</strong> Strategy Fund. These funds covered the costs of the six regi<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s that were held in March – May 2008. Additi<strong>on</strong>al funds have been obtained from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) to cover preparati<strong>on</strong> and printing costs of this report. The Governance Commissi<strong>on</strong> “<strong>Land</strong> Team” that worked under the leadership of Dr. Sawyer included Dr. Cecil T. O. Brandy, nati<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>sultant, Dr. Jeanette Carter, c<strong>on</strong>sultant sec<strong>on</strong>ded from the University of Liberia, Kuluboh Jensen, Program Analyst for the Governance Commissi<strong>on</strong>, and Rebecca Martin Heink, secretary. Support was provided by the GC Commissi<strong>on</strong>ers, including Yarsuo Weh-Dorliae and Sandra Howard-Kendor, and GC staff to whom appreciati<strong>on</strong> is extended. The team worked closely with the <strong>Land</strong> Issues Steering Committee (see Annex (VIII) for list of members). The Ec<strong>on</strong>omic Revitalizati<strong>on</strong> Pillar Committee chaired by Minister of Finance Antoinette Sayeh also assisted. The GC is indebted to all these for their work. Maura Kelly, a graduate student intern from Princet<strong>on</strong> University in 2009, assisted in preparati<strong>on</strong> of the report. Bantie Brownell-Forschner did the final formatting and layout. During the c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s, staff from the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Planning & Ec<strong>on</strong>omic Affairs, UN-Habitat, Talking Drum Studio, and DEN-L assisted in the facilitati<strong>on</strong>. Presentati<strong>on</strong>s were made by The H<strong>on</strong>orable Vice President Joseph N. Boakai, H<strong>on</strong>orable John T. Woods, Man- aging Director of the Forestry Development Authority, and H<strong>on</strong>orable Julu Johns<strong>on</strong>, Assistant Minister, Ministry of <strong>Land</strong>s, Mines, and Energy. Minister Johns<strong>on</strong>’s death in June 2008 has left a critical gap in the instituti<strong>on</strong>al knowledge <strong>on</strong> land issues. The World Bank has also assisted the GC through the work of two c<strong>on</strong>sultants, Dr. J<strong>on</strong> Unruh and Dr. John Bruce. Dr. Bruce, in particular, has worked closely with the GC and the Steering Committee in drafting the legislati<strong>on</strong> that will provide for the establishment of the <strong>Land</strong> Commissi<strong>on</strong>. Appreciati<strong>on</strong> is extended to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and its Minister, the H<strong>on</strong>orable Ambulai B. Johns<strong>on</strong>, and staff and to the Superintendents and other local officials of the counties who provided logistic support and, in several instances, participated in the discussi<strong>on</strong>s. The Norwegian Refugee Council provided logistic support during the c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s and have provided funds for the printing of this report. The <strong>Land</strong> Rights and Community Forestry Program funded by USAID also provided logistic support to the participants. The Ministry of Planning & Ec<strong>on</strong>omic Affairs, led by Dr. Toga McInstosh, paved the way for the regi<strong>on</strong>al c<strong>on</strong>sultati<strong>on</strong>s during their regi<strong>on</strong>al meetings in Kakata, Gbarnga, and Zwedru that discussed the County Development Agendas (CDAs). Finally, appreciati<strong>on</strong> is extended to the approximately 1,000 men and women from throughout Liberia who enthusiastically participated in these discussi<strong>on</strong>s and who have provided rich and frank insights into the issues and problems of land tenure that affect their lives. Governance Commissi<strong>on</strong> - Liberia 7