By Bill W. Cooper
The Farley family in Logan Town is accusing Representative Abu Bana Kamara of using his influence and money to illegally and forcefully take away a parcel of their land to be used for the construction of a soccer pitch.
Kamara is a Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) lawmaker representing Montserrado County District 15, and has illegally possessed the parcel of land for the project intended to be implemented by President George Weah in the district.
The aggrieved Farley Family also accused Rep. Kamara of opting to go on with his illegal plan by hiring a group of thugs that are constantly intimidating them, the legal owners, after talks between them and Rep. Kamara broke down and the matter is now in court.
Though the matter is still at the Civil Law Court evidence of a court document in the possession of this paper, Rep. Kamara has since denied the allegation and stated the land in question does not belong to individuals instead, it is for the government.
The portion of the contested land in question belongs to the late Thomas Farley, Sr and his wife Martha Farley who is still alive and is now 80 years old, according to Garlo Farley, who together with Mrs. Farley are serving as co-administrators of the land.
Garlo, in an interview with reporters at the Farley’s residence over the weekend, explained that the dispute with Rep. Kamara started in March of 2022, when a group of people stormed their residence and cut down the trees and flowers for construction of a sports pitch.
The family, accordingly decided to meet Rep. Karmara, who had developed the adjacent area for a community football field and stated that in the meeting held at the Garloe’s residence, Kamara disclosed that he wanted to develop the area into a modern sports pitch.
According to Garlo, he along with other siblings told Rep. Kamara that in order to use the piece of their land; they should enter into an agreement that will guarantee the Farley family’s ownership to the land and the right to claim it in the future.
He explained that there was no agreement reached during that meeting, and indicated, “Few days later after the meeting, the lawmaker to our surprise, moved in with yellow machine and they cleared the land and filled in the swampy area with dirt and the house was also affected by crack as result of the force of the machine.”
According to a communication also in the possession of the paper, it is understandable that the family is now fearing for their lives as a group of individuals allegedly loyal to Representative Kamara has threatened to physically harm them.
The family also alarm over the life of their mother who is the widow and also an administrator for the estate of the late Farley, their brother and other family members living in Logan Town, as the thugs have even vowed to burn down their properties acquired over 50 years ago.
Garlo further explained that the standoff between the Farley family and the CDC lawmaker reportedly erupted when some community youths, acting on the orders of Mr. Kamara began to provide security for the property on March 19, 2022, and called on the President for intervention.
Meanwhile, Garlo also accused the CDC lawmaker of using his political office to influence the country’s Judiciary system as well as the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) for illegally taking their land.
Garlo added that Rep. Kamara has on numerous occasions refused to honor the court’s order citing him for a conference but rather instructed a key official of the LLA to enforce eminent domain without serving notice to the Farley family.
But in response to the allegation from the Farley’s family, Rep. Kamara described the assertion as false, misleading and has no iota of truth but only intended to ruin his integrity for reasons best known to the family.
Rep. Kamara also stated that the claim is only intended to malign his hard-earned character, thus describing himself as a man of peace and not violence as being insinuated by the Farley’s family.
He told reporters that he followed all procedures in surveying the land in question noting that the land is legally owned by the government of Liberia and not the Farley family or any resident of the area.
The CDC lawmaker further claimed that the entire land that is being claimed by Farley family does not in any way belong to them but rather a portion, which he said will be used for the construction of the soccer pitch.
He at the same time stressed that the project is on course and that nothing or any individual can stop the project that is to be constructed by the Liberian government through the office of the President for the people of his district.
