Speaking at a news conference on Monday, November 1, 2021, is the Commission Officer of MAP Liberia, Mr. Haje Paasewe, tells us that the National Land Conference is the first of its kind in over 15 years of Land form in Liberia. It is being organized by the Multi-Actor platform for land Governance in Liberia, which is also known as the MAP Liberia Land platform, Co-Convened by the Liberia Land Authority and the MAP Liberia Secretariat, headed by Right and Rice Foundation.
Haje stressed since the signing into Law of the new Land Right Act of 2018 ,the Liberia Land Authority has been working together with civil society organizations, government authorities, policy makers, and international partners to initiate good steps toward implementing the law.
He Further noted that these steps include achievement on the development for implementation of the law, strategic and standardized messages for disseminating information on the Act, drafting regulations and guidelines, undertaking of pilots of Community Land Formalization schemes and capacity building training programs for some actors in the land sector mainly from government and CSOs, as well as developing systems and processes for the land administration and management.
Mr. Passawa disclosed that MAP Liberia land Platform, comprised of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) and other key government agencies, CSO’s from the private sector, academic and research institutions, international partners and local communities, will be hosting a major land conference, which will take stock of successes achieved so far in the implementation of the law.
He further stated that they will also be analyzing and highlighting challenges faced to identify opportunities and generate recommendations and communication for the way forward.
The Communication Officer noted that the Conference will be held from the 1st to the 3rd of February 2022 in the Port City of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County, which will bring together 165 participants from across Liberia, under the theme “Celebrating three years of the Land Right Act.”
Additionally, Haje said the Conference will be equally organized under the auspices of the organizational arrangement, the National Organizing Committee(NOC), the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), the Ministry of Agriculture (MAO), the College of Agriculture and Forestry, the University of Liberia and Secretariat of MAP Liberia Land Platform. He said that with the added eight thematic groups, they will guide the content of the conference.
He concluded by saying that Donors and international Partners have already pledge financial , Material and technical resources in the tone of 60% of the proposed budget of US$160,000.
Also remarking, Hon. P. Bloh Sayeh, Vice Chair and Commissioner for Administration & Customer Service, LLA said we prepared to hold the first Land Conference in Liberia, on the Land Right Act, a milestone legislation that was passed for the benefit of the people who are owners of land across the country.
She added that land is the economy basic of life and is very important to life. The Land Right Act helps to protect forest. She said the issue of land in the country is very important and needs to be attended to.
She concluded by saying that the Liberia Land Authorities look forward to working with the Press and CSOs to have a very smooth dissemination of Information to the Liberian people regarding the Land Right Act.
Written by: Elijah D. S. Pyne
