GANTA, Nimba County — Former Nimba County Superintendent David Dorr Cooper has called on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s Government to intervene swiftly in a long‑running land dispute in Ganta before tensions escalate.
By Franklin Doloquee
Cooper urged rapid government action and verified compensation for legitimate owners as the best way to resolve the contentious issue and prevent it from becoming a larger problem in the growing city.
“The government must not pay people who are not legal owners,” he said, adding that any compensation should be based on verified legal ownership.
He warned claimants against mobilizing groups to clear or occupy disputed land and urged all parties to pursue lawful, peaceful channels.
His comments followed a press conference by the Ganta Support Group, which demanded the return of allegedly expropriated land and warned that the dispute unresolved since Liberia’s civil war risks renewed conflict if left unaddressed.
On October 14, the Nimba Concerned Citizens for Justice echoed calls for transparency, protection of land rights, and peaceful coexistence.
In a statement titled: “Peace, Justice, Transparency and the Protection of Land Rights in Ganta,” the group said the dispute raises questions about historical ownership, the safety of lives and property, and the public interest.
They noted that former President Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf declared the property an eminent‑domain matter on July 26, 2010, but said the issue remains unresolved.
The group also referred to a recent court ruling that reportedly recognized a land claim by a member of the Mandingo community based on a deed said to date to 1951.
The citizens called for release of the full court judgment, historical documents and the legal status of the 2010 declaration to promote transparency and clarify ownership.
Some reports said the Ganta Support Group threatened to make the town a conflict zone unless their demands were met; community leaders from the Muslim community, including Sakou Sanoe, denied any intent to provoke unrest. Sanoe, who identified the Muslim community with the Mandingo tribe, said local Muslims are pursuing peaceful development projects in Ganta, including plans to build a modern school.
He urged President Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung to take decisive, peaceful measures to resolve the dispute.
Background
The dispute dates to the civil war era and has involved competing claims of historical ownership. Former President Sirleaf’s 2010 eminent‑domain declaration aimed to settle the matter but, local groups say, has not been fully implemented.
A recent court decision reportedly recognized a Mandingo claimant’s deed from 1951; full records and the judgment have not been publicly released.
What community leaders want
Release the full court judgment, deeds, and documents related to the 2010 eminent‑domain declaration.
Verify ownership claims using existing land records and the courts.
Provide fair compensation only to verified legal owners.
Facilitate a peaceful, lawful resolution and discourage mobilization or occupation of disputed land.
Calls for broader action
Residents and community leaders in Ganta are urging the national government to investigate and resolve the dispute, which they say has disrupted livelihoods and heightened tensions across the city.
Locals report unclear titles, overlapping transactions, and stalled court actions that leave some occupants fearful of eviction and others unable to develop their properties.
“We need the government to step in and bring clarity,” said a market vendor. “People invest in houses and businesses here, but without clear ownership records we live with constant uncertainty.”
Legal experts say resolving the dispute will require coordinated action: accurate land mapping, verification of customary claims, certification of deeds, and, where necessary, compensation for legitimate claimants.
They recommend stronger administrative oversight to prevent conflicting sales and clearer record‑keeping at the county level.
Development and impact
Despite the unresolved land issues, Ganta has seen increased economic activity and private investment.
FrontPageAfrica reports the city has attracted more than five banking institutions and a wave of new commercial ventures retail outlets, hospitality businesses, and small manufacturers concentrated along major thoroughfares and newly developed commercial zones.
Local business leaders say improved infrastructure and Ganta’s position as a regional trading hub are encouraging expansion.
“We see more customers, more money moving through Ganta, and renewed confidence from investors,” said a bank manager. “But clear land rights are essential for sustained growth.”
Meanwhile, residents report concrete harms: construction projects halted by competing claims, higher financing costs because lenders won’t extend long‑term loans on disputed properties, and market traders fearing sudden displacement.
Next steps
County officials acknowledge the tensions but have not announced a timetable for hearings or a county‑led resolution process. Activists and affected residents plan to petition national authorities and request that the Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy and the judiciary dispatch a fact‑finding team to Ganta.
Observers say a durable solution will require a multi‑pronged approach: fast‑tracked legal adjudication for urgent cases, an updated public land registry, community mediation with legal oversight, and a public education campaign on land transactions and record‑keeping.
Residents hope prompt and transparent government action will secure property rights, protect livelihoods and sustain Ganta’s growth.