Over ‘Deforestation, Land Rights Violations’
The House of Representatives has cited heads of several line ministries and agencies to appear and provide testimony and documentation regarding alleged illegal deforestation and land rights violations in Gbarzon District, Grand Gedeh County.
Among those expected to appear before the House leadership next week Monday are officials from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Liberia Land Authority (LLA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ministry of Mines and Energy, Ministry of Labor, the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), and the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC).
Their testimonies are expected to clarify roles, responsibilities, and actions taken in response to reported forest depletion and land expropriation in the region.
The citation was initiated by Representative Jacob Cheategba Debee II of District #3, Grand Gedeh County, who raised alarm over what he described as coordinated activities by local officials including the Statutory Development Superintendent and Magistrate of Chayee Town that have led to mass clearing of forest cover in Gboe Chiefdom.
He claimed that these actions may violate statutory protections under Liberia’s Land Rights Act of 2018, which mandates community consultation and documentation before any transfer of customary land.
Rep. Debee is seeking clarity on whether the Liberia Land Authority has taken steps to block or regularize acquisitions affecting communal lands, including issuing notices, conducting titling actions, and initiating conflict-resolution mechanisms.
He stressed that the absence of such procedures undermines the legal safeguards intended to protect community land rights.
He also questioned the FDA’s enforcement capacity, citing its mandate to conserve forest resources and regulate timber harvesting.
Additionally, he called on the EPA to explain its lack of presence in the district and its role in ensuring environmental impact assessments and carbon stock preservation.
The House’s action underscores its constitutional oversight role and signals growing concern over environmental governance and land rights enforcement in rural Liberia.
The invited officials are expected to provide detailed responses and supporting documents to aid legislative scrutiny.
Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
Subscribe
