Land a major source of conflict

Liberia’s Minister of Information has warned here that land remains a major source of conflict in Liberia. Minister Lenn Eugene Nagbe said government has been involved in a land reform process for the past years, and the significance behind such reform process is to halt all disputes about land across the country.

Addressing a media conference over the weekend at the Monrovia City Hall on 1st Street in Monrovia he said land disputes continue to pose serious challenge on Liberia’s development and growth with adverse impact on every single Liberian.

The conference was organized by the Interim Land Taskforce set up by the government with support from USAID, and the land governance support activity. The day-long exercise brought together journalists from various media institutions, including Editors, Writers, and Reporters as well as stakeholders in the land sector. It was held under the theme; “Scale up reportage of good land governance.”

Minister Nagbe emphasized the role of the media in land reporting, saying the media serves as a critical partner to the land sector, and the development of the country. He said the role of the media should never be over looked in any activity of government.

“Though we understand that there can be no proper democracy without a critical media, but the media must also do away with censorship; if the media is free from censorship then we all can work in one accord”, Nagbe noted.

He said the fact that the media is being called to a conference, is a clear indication it is a very powerful tool. The MICAT boss said it is impossible for the government to carry on development in the absence of the media, stressing the media has the power to build, and to destroy the country.

But he reminded that the media capacity should be built in order for it to access information and carry on good and balance reporting.

By Lewis S. Teh-Editing by Jonathan Browne