IPNEWS:The first ever modern law firm in Southeast Liberia, Justice Advocates Law Group (JALG) calls on relevant government agencies to urgently issue residence and work permits to thousands of Burkinabe in Grand Gedeh and other Southeastern counties, and speed up consultations with communities to protect proposed and reserved forests.
Launched 10 February 2025 in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, JALG runs a legal aid clinic in communities in the county, raises awareness on the land rights law, resolves conflict through Alternative Dispute Resolution and makes representation in courts for community members.
JALG states that the growing number of undocumented Burkinabe in the county and the uncontrollable deforestation through farming have now reached crisis level, with the migrants out numbering residents in towns and villages and intruding into private, community, proposed and reserved forests.
“Grand Gedeh is grappling with unprecedented land conflicts, setting apart families, communities and towns on account of thousands of these undocumented Burkinabe crossing into Grand Gedeh over the last 8 (eight) years, taking over forest land, clearing and planting mostly cocoa,” said Cllr p. Alphonsus Zeon, JALG`s Managing Partner.
With the growing cocoa business in the county, lack of benefit sharing arrangements is one major source of conflict. Clashes are now frequent between locals and Burkinabe on one hand and Forestry Development Authority rangers, enforcing the protection of proposed and reservedforests.
‘Without any legal status, the aliens can not enter into any enforcible lease agreement with local land owners that clearly delineate shared benefits, added Cllr Zeon.
JALG recommends mobile teams of the Liberia Immigration Service, Ministry of Labor and Liberia Revenue Authority to profile and issue resident and work permits to Burkinabe in communities, instead of the teams stationing in county capitals.
Meanwhile, JALG signed a memorandum of understanding with the Grand Gedeh Freedom of Information Network (GEFOINET) in Zwedru to help promote the rule of law in Grand Gedeh County.
Under the MOU, JALG and GEFOINET will extend legal awareness on the Land Rights Law and issues of human rights, access to justice and rule of law and empower communities make informed decisions related to property issues, mainly forest land.
“We have a lot to do together to help our people ease tension in the county”, said JALG`s partner for Litigation, Cllr Nelson Garr, during the signing of the MOU recently in Zwedru.
JALG and GEFOINET will support communities resolve conflicts through Alternative Dispute Resolution relating to (i) land disputes (2) women rights to land, (3) gender-based violence (4) rights of accused, (5) fundamental human rights and (6) monitor justice administration in Grand Gedeh.
GEFOINET Coordinator, Dixon Leabah said, “the partnership will allow the two groups to share resources, expertise and work together to advance the rule of law and respect for human rights.”
JALG and GEFOINET called on the Ministry of Justice to re-erect the collapsed portion of the prison wall and improve conditions at the Palace of Correction, the detention facility for all convicted criminals from across Liberia.
The Palace of Correction currently hosts about three hundred pre-trial detainees and convicts with one hand pump for water and no electricity.
With the collapsed wall of the prison still on the ground, the potential of prison escape is more likely, releasing more accused and convicted criminals into the communities already charged with explosive land conflicts.
