Monrovia – Land disputes linger a significant threat to the newly elected President, George Mannah Weah as it was to former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Regardless of the creation of a Land Commission to deal with ownership conflicts, many problems still persist.
The latest issue involves the Gbaye and Gaye families in the southeastern region of Liberia. The two families in Grand Gedeh have embarked on a witch hunt over a disputed parcel of land located in Chein District that has been established, belongs to the late Anthony Gbaye Sr.
It is reported that the late Mr. Anthony Gbaye Sr. left as his next of kin Mr. Anthony Gbaye Jr, who has encountered an unhindered conflict over the land issue.
“Because of the continuous conflict over the land, I gave the power of Attorney to Mr. Jerkins Gbaye and Roland Gbaye, which were my uncles who are all dead due to the struggle over this land,” Anthony Gbaye Jr. asserted in a hideout.
Mr. Anthony Gbaye who is the prime target is said to be on the run due to numerous threats over his life from family members of the Gaye family.
It can be recalled that Mr. Anthony Gbaye once tried encouraging potential investors to develop the land, but little did he know that he was engaging into a ‘baleful strive’.
“My first attempt to take investors to the parcel of land in question, turned out to be violent and I was hunted by the opposing side with cutlasses and knives that caused me serious injury a few years ago” Mr. Anthony Gbaye Jr.
Mr. Anthony Gbaye Jr. has since been missing in action for quite a while on fear for his life.
According to a family source of Anthony who spoke on anonymity to this news outlet said, “Even though Anthony’s whereabouts is unknown, but his absence from the scene of the conflict is safer for his life than he returning home to face an unpleasing situation.”
The chairman of Liberia’s Land Commission, when asked to comment, says this is the first time in his country’s history that land rights have been defined and they include customary rights, on the issues of the disputes between the two families, he said the matter has gone out of hand and it is becoming difficult day-by-day.