The Liberia Land Authority (LLA), with support from the World Bank-funded Liberia Land Administration Project (LLAP) and the Sida-supported Inclusive Land Administration and Management Project (ILAMP), on April 14, 2022 ended a three-day high-level consultation meeting to validate and finalize the regulations for the implementation of the Land Rights Act, particularly Customary Land Rights.
Article 71 of the Land Rights Act (LRA) of 2018 mandates the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) to promulgate regulations for the effective implementation of the LRA. In fulfillment of this mandate, the LLA completed a set of draft regulations in preparation for carrying out inclusive participatory consultations on the draft regulations for the implementation of the LRA. The regulations were drafted by consultants versed in land tenure and administration as well as Liberian Customary Law and Practices; Dr. Cllr. Jallah A. Barbu, one of the consultants, led the facilitation of the consultations.
The three-day consultation meeting brought together leaders of various customary communities with prevalence of tribal certificates, Civil Society Organizations, particularly those involved with land reform, Local and Traditional leaders, Traditional Council of Liberia, Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia, Liberia National Bar Association, Professional Associations, Concession companies in the mineral and natural resources sectors, relevant ministries, agencies and commissions (MACs) of the Government, Academic Institutions and members of the Press Union of Liberia.
The consultation meeting focused on six thematic areas: Conduct of Confirmatory Surveys to Identify, Inventory, Map, Probate and Register the Community Land Claims of Communities; The Process for Communities to Set Aside as Public Land a Maximum of Ten Percent of Community Land in Each Community; Best Practices for Community Negotiations Over Concessions; Dispute Resolution and Judicial Review in Respect of Community Land; e. The Inventory of Government Land and Harmonization of its Boundaries; and Tribal Certificate and suggestions on how to strengthen the section in the draft regulations.
At the close of the three-day consultations, the views, inputs, and comments of participants were incorporated in the final draft regulations, where appropriate, for the legal consultants to finalize the regulations, followed by submission to the WB for information purposes, and the Ministry of Sate for Presidential Affairs for gazettement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Speaking at the end of the draft regulations consultation, Cllr. Barbu acknowledged the cutting-edge and invaluable comments and inputs of the participants, assuring that the Act and the regulations are quite responsive to current realities surrounding land ownership, use and administration and if adhered to and implemented as envisaged, the land crises in Liberia will drastically reduce.
The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) was established in 2016 by an ACT of the National Legislature. The Authority is the ONE-STOP-SHOP for all land matters.