LLA Issues Three Customary Land Deeds To Citizens Of Nimba

By Patrick N. S. Tokpah
SANNIQUELLIE, NIMBA COUNTY – The Liberia Land Authority in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Land Management Activity (LMA), has officially handed over three Customary Land Deeds to citizens of Nimba County.
It was a scene of jubilation on Thursday, August 29, 2024, in Sanniquellie City, Nimba County, when citizens of Zolowee, Gbassa, and Zor-Yolowee were presented their respective deeds by the LLA Chairman Manobah.

Remarking at the ceremony, Liberia Land Authority Chairman, Atty. J. Adams Manobah, Sr., appreciated the management of LMA and USAID-Liberia for buttressing the effort of the Government of Liberia in ensuring that customary communities in the subdivision of Liberia are documented and deeded.
Chairman Manobah, who attended the program along with other LLA Officials, further called on the local authority and CLDMC members to continue to work in the best interest of the people of Nimba County.
The Liberia Land Authority Chairman at the same time extended thanks to the people of Zolowee, Gbassa, and Zor Yolowee including the leadership of the Community Land Development and Management Committee (CLDMC) for remaining committed during the implementation and completion of the steps and processes required for Customary Land Formalization as enshrined in the Land Rights Act of Liberia.
For their part, citizens of Zolowee, Gbassa, and Zor-Yolowee thanked the office of the Nimba County Land Administrator, Eddie K Beangar, and the Liberia Land Authority Chairman, Atty J. Adams Manobah and USAID Liberia Land Management Activity for the process.
They further lauded the ‘Green Advocate, SHAPE Liberia,’ and all of the partners of the Liberia Land Authority for the initiative.
They further noted that the Customary Land Deeds Formalization will help to ease some of the tensions or land conflict in the Land Sector of Liberia.
The LMA is a USAID-funded project that is working with the LLA to help customary communities acquire (for the first time in their history) legal title to their lands.

The LLA is Liberia’s land regulatory agency charged with implementing the Land Reform Rights Act of 2018, including its provisions on land rights for customary communities.
Customary communities are typically rural communities that have occupied their lands subject to traditional rules and norms but without any recognizable tenure rights.
Under the Land Reform Rights Act, members of these communities that self-identify as a group and complete certain steps, including resolution of all boundary disputes, are entitled to deeds legally recognizing their rights to the land they have occupied for 50 or more years.
The Customary Land Deeds presentation followed an intense customary land Formalization process that was time-consuming, with both resources and energy required from the LLA and its partners.