Tiah expressed deep frustration over what he described as an unjust action that disrupted his organization’s operations and caused significant financial loss.
Monrovia — Leo Tiah, Executive Director of the Youth Network for Positive Change and a civil society advocate, has accused the Ministry of Public Works of selectively targeting his organization’s property during a recent demolition exercise in Thinker’s Village.
By Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
Speaking to journalists over the weekend, Tiah expressed deep frustration over what he described as an unjust action that disrupted his organization’s operations and caused significant financial loss.
But Benjamin Myers, Communications Director of the Ministry of Public Works, in response to the allegations, denied claims of bias and explained that the demolition was carried out by established procedures.
Myers stated that the ministry issued a notice on December 18, giving him two weeks to remove the property because it was situated within an alley.
However, he claims his legal team engaged the Ministry’s Zoning Department to contest the notice, arguing that the property was four feet away from the alley and not in violation.
According to Tiah, his legal representatives provided evidence to the Zoning Department and sought clarification from Director Edmond Lloyd. Despite being unable to meet directly with Lloyd, his team was assured the issue would be reviewed. “We believed the matter had been resolved,”
Tiah explained, “But we were shocked to find the property demolished without further engagement or due process.”
“This was a targeted action against our office building,” Tiah alleged. “Structures adjacent to ours, located the same distance from the alley, were left untouched. This selective demolition suggests bias and victimization.”
Tiah further disclosed that the demolition disrupted a scheduled event by his organization and caused damages to essential equipment and materials.
He estimated the total financial loss to be around USD 10,000.
The advocate has filed legal documents challenging the Ministry’s actions and vowed to pursue justice through the courts.
He criticized the Ministry of Public Works for failing to adhere to due process and accused the government of prioritizing personal interests over fairness.
“Our property was legally acquired, with deeds probated and the Liberia Land Authority involved in the process.
Yet, the Ministry chose to act unilaterally, ignoring ongoing legal proceedings concerning this property,” Tiah emphasized.
He called on the government to ensure impartiality in its enforcement actions, stating, “If one property in the alley is affected, justice demands that all similar properties be treated the same.”
Tiah also expressed concerns that the demolition was a deliberate attempt to hinder his organization’s advocacy work, adding, “We will not be silenced.
Myers, however, denied claims of bias and explained that the demolition was carried out by Myers. Myers stated that the demolition process begins with a complaint to the Ministry by affected individuals.
The ministry then invited those accused of blocking access and informed them of the complaint.
The Division of Zoning & Land Use Planning conducts investigations, which include verifying the title deeds and conducting on-site inspections to confirm any violations.
The findings are submitted to the Ministry’s Chief Counselor, who makes the final decision regarding demolition. Myers emphasized that this process is designed to ensure legal compliance and fairness.
Addressing Tiah’s case specifically, Myers explained that the investigation leading to the demolition dated back to 2017, long before Tiah acquired the property.
He claimed that the previous owner of the property had been informed of the violation but chose to sell the property to Tiah instead of addressing the issue.
“How Leo is now claiming that he’s being sought after for political reasons is ridiculous, given the time variance between the investigation and the decision to demolish, as well as the ownership of the said property,” Myers said.
Myers also stressed that the ministry’s actions were not influenced by politics or personal interests.
“The Ministry of Public Works does not subject itself to politics or political witch-hunts, as it is aware of the historical repercussions such actions have had on the infrastructure sector of Liberia. It only believes in actions that best serve the interest of the public and nothing else,” he added.
