The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) has sharply denied reports linking its Chairman, Samuel Kpakio, to the alleged manipulation of a 500-acre Developmental Grant Deed (DGD) issued to a Burkinabe national in Tian Town and Bhai-Niko, Grand Gedeh County.
Recent publications, particularly from The Daylight, accused Chairman Kpakio of masterminding the issuance of the deed in violation of an existing moratorium on public land transactions.
But the LLA, in a strongly worded statement, dismissed the allegation as “baseless” and intended to “damage the hard-earned reputation” of its Chairman, while undermining the confidence of donors and implementing partners.
According to the authority, the moratorium in place covers the sale and lease of public land, not the issuance of a developmental grant deed.
Therefore, the LLA insists, the document issued did not violate any standing policy.
The institution explained that, in keeping with its decentralization agenda, designed to strengthen the work of County Land Offices (CLOs), it relied on technical and administrative information supplied by the Grand Gedeh County Land Administrator, Freeman Paye, before approving the DGD.
However, the LLA says investigations have uncovered a “premeditated and orchestrated plan” by the County Land Administrator and the County Land Dispute Officer to mislead central authorities and bring the institution into public disrepute. Both officials have since been suspended indefinitely and are undergoing a formal investigation.
To stabilize the situation and restore confidence among affected communities, the LLA has deployed a team of technicians to Grand Gedeh County to conduct a full-scale customary land formalization process, in line with Articles 46.1 and 46.2 of the LLA Act and the 2018 Land Rights Act.
The process is expected to accelerate the issuance of Statutory Customary Land Deeds to local communities.
The authority emphasized that it relies on its county-based technicians to uphold honesty, transparency, accountability, and professionalism as it advances nationwide land reform.
Speaking to journalists over the weekend in Monrovia, Chairman Samuel Kpakio further warned that any LLA staff found engaging in acts that misrepresent, tarnish, or embarrass the institution will face the full consequences of the law.
The LLA reaffirmed its commitment to protecting customary land rights and ensuring that land use and leasing are conducted strictly in accordance with national law and best practices.
