By Solomon T. Gaye Sr.
The Chairperson of the Liberia Inter-Religious Council in Nimba County, Rev. Henry Paul, has disclosed plans to restructure the local branch of the Council based in the Bain-Garr District in Nimba County.
Speaking over the weekend, Rev. Paul explained that the restructure plan is line to work with the presidential land committee set up by President George Maneh Weah to investigate the recent property dispute in order to bring closure to the long standing land conflict between the Donzo and Suah families.
Since the beginning of 2020, the land conflict between the Donzo, Suah, Jabarteh families resurfaced and created serious fear and tension among the residents in the county and on May 21, 2021, the conflict took a new dimension which witnessed the burning down of a warehouse as well as demolition of the property located in the Dumba Field Community in Ganta, Nimba County.
Rev. Paul revealed that a mass meeting is being scheduled to take place at the women concern building in Ganta with elders of the traditional chief council, the Christian community representative, elders of the Muslim Council and members of the Liberia Marketing Association, to discuss the best ways to work with the presidential land committee setup in settling the land conflict.
According to Rev. Paul, the Council, when restructured, will comprise of three members from the traditional chief council and three members each from the five tribes residing in the county pointing out that the Inter-Religious Council is making sure that peace prevails in every sectors of the country.
In 2010, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf setup a land committee to settle land dispute head by Musa Bility as chairperson to settle land conflict in Nimba and according to that 2010 land committee’s report, over 600 land cases was reordered and documented to be under dispute in Ganta between the Mandingoes, Manos, Gios and other ethnic groups residing in the county.
Meanwhile, the new committee set up recently by President Weah with several members including residents who are believed to be parties to the conflict were given the mandate to aid the probe and that committee has about a month to report to the office of the President; given its 60 days’ timeframe.