The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) in collaboration with the Sweden Government has turned over five customary land deeds to residents of Jo River Administrative District in Rivercess County. The Customary Deeds were given to the citizens of Bodowea Town and surrounding Clans in the county on Thursday, March 6, 2025. Speaking at the deeds turning-over ceremony, the National Chairman of the Liberia Land Authority, Samuel F. Kpakio, expressed gratitude to the Sweden Government for their support in helping customary communities secure land ownership. He commended the leadership of the Community Land Development and Management Committees (CLDMCs) for their steadfastness and urged community leaders to prioritize the interests of their people when negotiating land-related agreements. The Chairman of the Liberia Land Authority urged the communities to use the deeds to properly manage their land. According to him, protecting the land and using it properly will bring development to the communities and its people. At the same time, the Liberia Land Authority Chairman has underscored more support to the land sector to enhance peace and stability in the country. He said there are many conflicts and disputes over land across the country, and it needs huge support to remedy the situation. The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) head further noted that educating the Liberian population is key to resolving many land issues across the country. At the same time, Sweden’s Ambassador to Liberia, Karl Backues described the deeds turning over ceremony as an important step to community development and the acquisition of customary land deeds. Ambassador Backeus said the process marks a significant step towards helping the communities to develop. The Sweden Ambassador to Liberia reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting the land sector of Liberia. Moreover, Dr. Mahmoud Solomon, Commissioner of Land Administration, applauded the leadership of the Community Land Development and Management Committees (CLDMCs) for their commitment and urged community leaders to prioritize the interests of the community. Dr. Solomon who gave the overview of the project, said during the planning stage of the project, the team worked harder just to produce the results for the communities. “This part of Liberia has never benefited from Customary Land formalization, and we realized that this Jo River Administrative District needed the project most,” he added. The LLA Commissioner of Land Administration told the citizens that the next step is land use and planning which involves the process of managing the use and development of land resources. He noted that those resources are used for a variety of purposes, including agriculture, forestry, water resource management, human settlements, and tourism. Meanwhile, Madam Esther Judu, Commissioner of Jo River Administrative District, described the moment as an unforgettable journey for them in the county. According to her, the acquisition of the deeds marks a new beginning for her district. The leaders made the remarks in Bodowea Town, River Cess when the LLA handed over Customary Land Deeds to five clans in Monweh Statutory District, including Boeh-Tarr, Gonor-Tarr, Sawpue, Jowein, and Central Monweh Clans.