Monrovia- May 26, 2023: A high-level delegation from the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) headed by Hon. Atty. J. Adams Manobah, Sr., Chairman of LLA on, Monday, May 22, 2023, bids farewell to the outgoing UNDP Resident Country Representative Mr. Stephen Rodriques.

Chairman J. Adams Manobah, Sr., thanked the UNDP outgoing Resident Country Representative Mr. Stephen Rodriques for his support to Liberia and the land sector.

He said the LLA will forever remember the meaningful achievements made over the years under the stewardship of Mr. Rodriques.

The LLA boss thanked the entire UNDP-Liberia family and stated that the LLA will continue to engage with the UNDP family as Liberia strives toward land reform.

“We are thankful for your time spent in Liberia. We at the LLA are gratified of your commitment to Liberia’s land sector,” Hon. Monabah Sr. said “Your role played in the land sector cannot be overemphasized, ranging from your support to the Land Rights Acts and the LLA to implement said Act,” he emphasized.

Chairman Monabah said the LLA hopes that the relationship built with the UNDP will continue and bring additional benefits to the country’s land sector.

Also, the UNDP Resident Country Representative Mr. Rodriques praised the LLA Chairman and members of the Board of Commissioners, including technical staff of the LLA for the level of work that is currently being done in the sector.

Mr. Rodriques expressed the need for more support to the LLA, and as well called on all to continue the good work. He said with the level of work being done, the UNDP family can only hope for more across the country.

“I came to Liberia to do a piece of job for my brothers and sisters in Liberia, and since then, I feel that connection to Liberia,”Mr. Rodriques said. “Knowing the history of land and its violent side surely calls for all to pay attention to the sector,” he added,

He said the LLA is doing tremendously and hoped that other partners and government will continue to support it.

“I am thankful for what we were able to achieve together and makes me even more thankful,” Mr. Rodriques admitted. “I am truly proud and deeply touched, especially seeing what our partnership has done for Liberia through the LLA and this is a great achievement for the UNDP,” he added.

The Land Rights Act (LRA) was signed into law on September 19, 2018, by President George M. Weah, printed into handbill on October 10th, 2018, and established that customary communities upon the completion of the confirmatory survey will be issued Statutory Land Deed.

Thus, in a quest to ensure that customary communities obtain their Statutory Land Deeds, the LLA with support from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) conducted ten (10) confirmatory surveys in four counties, namely, Grand Cape Mount, Sinoe, Nimba and Maryland Counties, of which eight statutory deeds were acquired.

The presentation of these deeds to the communities is underway, a grand ceremony is being planned by the UNDP and the LLA to bring together all the project catchment counties and communities along with scores of government officials and eminent citizens who immensely contributed to the historic passage of the LRA and its subsequent implementations that are now directly benefitting the indigenous Liberian Citizens.

Mr. Julius Kawa, Director for Policy, Planning and Program, LLA, when spoken to about the completion of phase one of the project expressed the need for more communities to benefit.

He further stated that funding for the full implementation of the law is a challenge, thus customary communities can benefit from concessions when their lands are formalized.

Mr. Kawa said though implementing partners are making efforts, the national government through the LLA is working tirelessly to ensure that communities receive deeds to their customary lands.

At the end of the event, the LLA gowned Mr. Rodriques and presented a certificate of appreciation to him as a symbol of the LLA’s gratitude for his humane works in Liberia especially the land sector.

The LLA’s delegation to the farewell ceremony comprised of Cllr. Kula L. Jackson, Commissioner, Land Policy and Planning, LLA, Mr. Aryee K. Williams, Director Administration, Human Resource and Training, LLA, Mrs. Daniella Grey Johnson, Project Director, LLA, D’Siafa Draper, Technical Assistant, Office of the Chairman, LLA, and Emmanuel Chedeh Davis, Communication and Outreach Officer, LLA.