MONROVIA – Residents of concession-affected communities in Liberia, fresh from a knowledge exchange visit to Ghana led by the National Bureau of Concessions (NBC), have vowed to champion dialogue with concessionaires operating in their counties instead of staging continuous protests.
The delegation, comprising representatives from concession-affected communities, the NBC led by Director General Atty. Edwin N. Dennis, Liberia Land Authority, and UN Women, returned with valuable insights on the harmonious coexistence between communities and concession companies in Ghana. The visit was part of the “Enhancing Peace and Social Cohesion” project, a three-year initiative by UN Women in collaboration with the UNDP, World Food Program, and the Agency for Economic Development and Empowerment (ACEDE).
At a press briefing held at the NBC head office in Congo Town, residents pledged their support for constructive engagement and peace talks to address their grievances with concession companies in Nimba, Grand Mount, and Bomi counties. They praised the Ghanaian government for implementing effective mechanisms that facilitate peaceful conflict resolution between communities and concessionaires.
“Even though protesting against the concession companies is not good, I understood that it is not happening in Ghana because the Ghanaian government has put in place proper mechanisms that both parties follow to handle their issues; their government seeks their welfare, but Liberia’s case is sadly different,” remarked Sylvester Nyanamah of Nimba County.
In Ghana, companies like Benso Oil Concession and Golden Star Resources have established grievance committees to resolve disputes, backed by the government’s authority. Mariama Konneh and Hawa Konneh from Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount, highlighted the committee’s role in finalizing decisions during conflict resolution.
Hawa Johnson-Gballey, representing the Mano Palm Oil Plantation affected community in Bomi County, noted that many protests resulting in loss of lives and property destruction could have been avoided with similar measures. She emphasized the negative impact of continuous protests on the country’s revenue and international investor confidence.
“This trip was really rewarding and made me understand that protesting against those concession companies does not help the community and the government,” Johnson-Gballey reflected.
The residents expressed gratitude to the NBC and UN Women for facilitating the visit, which aims to promote peaceful coexistence and ensure equitable access to land for rural women. They pledged to become ambassadors of peace in their communities and establish grievance committees to address concerns constructively.
Madam Olivia K. David, Gender Coordinator at the Liberia Land Authority, stressed the importance of involving community residents and local leaders in land negotiations for concession operations, a practice that has reduced conflicts in Ghana. She recommended that the NBC collaborate with the Liberia Land Authority to include affected communities in concession agreements, fostering a sense of inclusion and cooperation.
NBC Director General Atty. Edwin N. Dennis revealed that the project has received $3.5 million from the Peacebuilding Fund, aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence and equitable land access. He assured residents and donors of the Liberian government’s commitment to implementing the recommendations to enhance the relationship between communities and concession companies.
“One of the main reasons for these visits to neighboring countries is to learn from the process and identify positive practices that can be implemented in Liberia; to achieve this, among other things, UN Women coordinated the knowledge exchange visit to Ghana,” Atty. Dennis explained.
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