The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) has officially lifted the moratorium on the sale and lease of public land, allowing legal transactions to resume under strict regulatory guidelines.
By Kruah Thompson
Monrovia, August 2025: The moratorium, imposed on February 3, 2025, suspended all public land transactions nationwide per Article 8.1(a) of the LLA Act of 2016, Chapter 13, Article 52.1 of the Land Rights Act of 2018, and the 2022 Land Rights Act Regulation.
The suspension aimed to allow time for the development of new policies governing the use, sale, lease, and management of public land across all 15 counties.
Speaking at a press conference in Monrovia on Thursday, July 31, LLA Chairman Samuel F. Kpakio announced the lifting of the moratorium, citing the successful development of comprehensive new guidelines.
“Distinguished members of the press, we want to state clearly that the Liberia Land Authority, in accordance with established laws, remains the primary agency of government responsible for the management, sale, and regulation of public land in Liberia,” said Chairman Kpakio. “Therefore, I am pleased to announce that the Board of Commissioners of the LLA has decided to lift the moratorium.”
According to Kpakio, the decision is part of broader reforms aimed at transforming Liberia’s land sector. These reforms seek to ensure equitable access to land, secure tenure, proper land use, improved governance and administration, and transparency in land-related adjudication.
He further emphasized LLA’s commitment to the formalization of customary land rights and the delivery of effective, revenue-generating land services.
As part of the reform measures, the LLA is introducing a new Deed Form, which includes “A Temporary Occupancy Permit (formerly known as ‘Squatters’ Rights’), Interim Guidelines for Validating Tribal Certificates (TCs),
Interim Guidelines for the Sale and Lease of Public Land, A revised Fee Regime for land-related services and penalties, and the Regulations for implementing the Land Rights Act of 2018 and the 2022 Liberia Land Rights Regulation.”
And finally, the land authority will verify every survey document before reaching the court to avoid the wrongful sale of land.
Speaking on the occasion, Chairman Kpakio noted that land ownership in Liberia has long posed a serious national security concern and warned that if left unaddressed, land-related disputes could escalate into conflict.
“Since taking office, my administration has been focused on ensuring transparent adjudication of land disputes, improving revenue tracking, and enhancing service delivery across the fifteen counties,” Kpakio stated.
“We remain committed to implementing transformative policies and ensuring that women’s land rights, as well as the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), are fully respected and protected.”
He assured the public that the LLA will conduct robust public awareness campaigns to help citizens understand their rights, roles, and responsibilities under the new framework. -Edited by Othello B. Garblah.
