The government has begun paying compensation to over 3,000 victims who houses were demolished on a disputed land owned by the University of Liberia situated in lower Johnsonville, Montserrado County.
This followed the first payment of US$1 million made on Thursday, 01 June against the US$5 million agreement reached between the present administration and the victims in 2019 which seems to be bringing some relieve to the people.
According to the lead campaigner, John Kollie, the Executive Director of the Liberia Media and Democratic Imitative (LMDI), the payment represents the first 20 percent promised by the government during the negotiation with the homeless.
He said the government has assured the victims that additional compensation payment shall be made in segments in the coming months until all is completely settled probably either this year or next year.
In 2016, during the tenure of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, scores of residents within the UL Fendell Campus vicinity were squatter following the breaking down of their houses thereby forcing the victims to seek new alternatives to rebuild their lives.
However, as government is continuity, this regime decided to reach out to the victims and revisit their concerns and government’s commitment because US$5 million for 3, 000 persons is not a small amount of money.
