'Illegal Sale' of Land Worries VP Boakai

Vice President, Joseph N. Boakai, Sr. yesterday, March 11, 2010 launched the newly created Land Commission (LC).
Delivering the keynote address, VP Boakai said he was of the strong conviction that the issue of land, per se, 'is not the real issue'. According to him, “the illegal sale of land by unscrupulous individuals, improper conveyance of deed, and other acts of impropriety associated with land use are the flashpoints of confusion”.
The Vice President therefore challenged the Land Commissioners to develop comprehensive national land tenure and land use policy that will provide equitable access to land and security of tenure.
“This,” he said, “will further facilitate inclusive, sustainable growth and development, ensure peace and security and also promote sustainable management of the environment.”
The ceremony, held at the LC's Sinkor 8th Street offices in Monrovia, brought together several high-profile dignitaries including the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) Country Representative, Ms. Astrid Sletten; Acting Internal Affairs Minister, Peter Z. Kamei; Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Mines and Environment, Richard A. Divine; former Agriculture Minister, Dr. Chris Toe; and former Managing Director, Forest Development Authority (FDA), John Woods, among others.
The LC was enacted into law in 2008, approved by members of the National legislature on August 4, 2009 and published into hand bill by authority of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The LC, as an independent commission, has the mandates to, among other things, advocate and coordinate reforms in land policy, laws and programs in the country. Interestingly, the LC has no adjudicatory or implementation role. It, however, has the objective to equitable and productive access to the nation's land, both public and private, security of tenure in land and the rule of law with respect to landholding and dealings in land, etc.
Members of the Commission include the chairman, Dr. Cecil T.O. Brandy; the vice chairman, Walter Y. Wisner; and Commissioner Mrs. Susana G. Vaye.
Other Commissioners are Dr. Brahima D. Kaba, Lwopu G. Kandakai, Cllr. Eddington A. Vamah and Mrs. Estellie K. Liberty.