The newly appointed Chairman for the Liberia Land Authority Samuel Kpakio has promise to restored public trust at the Authority Admist controversy at the LLA.
Speaking Thursday March 20, 2025 at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism regular Press Briefing Mr. Kpakio told a team of Journalists that the Liberia Land Authority is undergoing a transformation to restore public trust, strengthen governance, and ensure equitable access to land rights for all Liberians.
“As the new Chairperson, my immediate focus is modernizing systems, revising regulations, and embedding accountability at every level”, the LLA new boss disclosed.
According to Kpakio, in a move to restore Public trust for the Authority he has written the GAC and IAA to conduct an internal audit to assess inherited systems and practices, providing a clear baseline for reforms.
He said the audits by GAC and IAA will guide targeted improvements, ensuring transparency in how LLA will manage land resources.
” We are scheduled to meet with GAC tomorrow for further discussions in this regard”, he added.
The LLA New Boss at the same time indicated that the cornerstone of their strategy is overhauling the dispute resolution unit—streamlining workflows, creating dedicated task forces, and implementing accountability measures to resolve cases fairly and Simultaneously.
He further that they are establishing a Legal Division to combat criminal conveyance and a Compliance Unit to ensure adherence to laws and internal standards.
The LLA head pointed out that collaboration is key.
As part of such efforts, the agency recently held a two-day working session with County Land Administrators, emphasizing ethics, professionalism, and their roles in delivering equitable services.
He furthered that the dialogue will continue as the LLA seek to roll out County Land Boards and Task Forces across all 15 counties to operationalize the LLA Act (2016) and Land Rights Act (2018), translating laws into tangible protections.
Kpakio lamented that the partnership with the Liberia Revenue Authority, is developing a land valuation system under the Real Estate Property Valuation Software and App Project (PSIP) framework and piloting it in three counties to clarify property values and generate government resources.
“This initiative aligns with the President’s agenda to create jobs for young people, particularly those trained through the President’s digitalization program”, Kpakio stressed.
Speaking on the technical front, the Authority is launching new Land Deed Forms with security features that will curb fraud.
“With support from Swedish partners, we have trained staff for Deed Verification, which will be decentralized to county offices to eliminate double registrations and ensure lawful land ownership”, he noted.
Kpakio told Journalists that to safeguard public trust, they have imposed a moratorium on public land transactions in Omega and Hotel Africa communities (Montserrado County).
He at the same called on individual living in the the Omega and Hotel Africa areas holding Development Grant Deeds to submit copies to the headquarters of the Liberia Land Authority by March 31, 2025, for verification by a dedicated committee.
He reassured the public that they are committed not only to a reform but a renewal in ensuring the LLA becomes a model of transparency, empowering Liberians to securely hold trade, and exercise their land rights respectively.
