Monrovia – Samuel Kpakio, the newly appointed Chairman of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), has called for a culture shift within the institution, urging staffers to adopt better work ethics and embrace transparency, professionalism, and accountability.
By Jahiem Tumu, [email protected]
Kpakio, who previously served as Director for the Department of Land Use and Management, emphasized the need for efficient and effective operations, signaling a new direction for the LLA under his leadership.
In his inaugural statement, Kpakio stressed that during his tenure, there would be “no room for unethical and unprofessional conduct,” both internally and in interactions with the public and development partners.
He underscored the importance of aligning the institution’s actions with its core mission of land governance, particularly as Liberia faces a land crisis that requires urgent resolution.
“There will be no room for unethical and unprofessional conduct — both in administration and in our interactions with our development partners and the Liberian public,” Kpakio declared. “The Liberia Land Authority will operate differently this time. Our work will be grounded in our core values: quality service delivery, transparency, fairness, accountability, integrity, professionalism, and respect.”
The new chairman vowed to address inefficiencies and restore public trust by ensuring land services are delivered fairly and transparently.
He also promised to lead the fight against land-related issues, emphasizing that LLA staff who undermine the institution’s mandate would be held accountable for their actions.
“We need to take decisive actions that signal LLA’s readiness to live up to its established mandates. This is an urgent crisis that demands a suitable solution,” he said. “The Liberian people and our partners are becoming frustrated, and we must provide solutions to restore their hope.”
Kpakio’s statement also outlined plans to collaborate with other government agencies, such as the judiciary, to address dubious activities in the land sector, with the goal of holding wrongdoers accountable.
He emphasized that the LLA would work to mitigate land disputes and improve transparency, hoping to rebuild the faith of both the public and development partners.
In his remarks, Kpakio reassured stakeholders and donors that the new leadership was committed to ensuring transparency and maintaining clear communication about all projects supported by the government and other organizations.
Addressing the need for organizational growth, Kpakio called for better training and incentives for LLA staff to enhance productivity and improve service delivery.
He also highlighted the importance of building the necessary infrastructure to support the institution’s goals, particularly the development of the country’s cadastral system—an essential tool for land registration and management.
During the meeting, Senator Simeon Taylor, Chair of the Senate Committee on Land Governance, stressed the importance of resolving land disputes, suggesting that the LLA should acquire land to construct its own building and improve the cadastral system.
“The land authority should be able to have her own building because the system we are talking about, to build the cadastral system, is an information system that will be able to solve all land issues,” Taylor explained.
Dr. Mahmoud Solomon, Commissioner for Land Administration, also spoke on the challenges faced by the LLA, acknowledging that the institution had lost some of its credibility over time.
He called for the new leadership to focus on solving the real issues rather than getting distracted by trivial matters. “As this new board chairman, I ask that we focus on the real issues and ignore trivial things,” Solomon stated, offering his full support to Kpakio’s leadership.
Kpakio’s call for reform signals a new approach at the Liberia Land Authority, with an emphasis on professionalism, accountability, and collaboration to restore public trust and tackle Liberia’s ongoing land issues.
