Land Right Ownership: A Major Barrier For Rural Women

Several women in Nimba County have been denied access to own, inherit and manage land despite having claims and legal documents to their lands.

Amongst those women is Marthaline W. Johnson, a resident of Ganta, who claimed her liberty to her inherited land, has been ceased by her paternal nephew, Wotoe Youhn.

Madam Johnson claimed that being the only child of her deceased parents, she inherited approximately 5,300 acres of land in Saryorlay Town, which she said, was bought by her late father in 1969.

Madam Johnson’s father formerly served as chief for Boe and Quilla District.

She expressed deep frustration over the alleged failure by the Liberia Land Authority to survey the land despite having a tribal certificate, which substantiated her claim to the land ownership. 

She further asserted that all efforts to have the land surveyed has been disrupted due to the egotism of Woto and Andy Sonyah.

 “I have spent all my savings on litigations, going places just to have my land back, but to no avail, because of this land, I have been bewitched to the extent that I nearly died in the process. The total money I have spent is about L$277, 400, plus US$7,765.”

The money was spent in the process to reclaim my land, but up to date, I’m yet to get back the land.

To certain the fact, our reporter, who visited Sarlay Town, observed that Youhn has sold portions of the land.

He has also hired Burkinabe’s contractors into the forest. The contractors have used chemicals, thus enabling them to underbrush the forested area.

Madam Johnson, further accused Nimba County Land Commissioner, Eddie K. Beangar, of siding with Youhn as though, he is one of the root causes of the dispute.

She further alleged that Andy Sonyah, who also bought portion of the forest has now joined Youhn in the fight against her.

But Mr. Beangar told In Profile newspaper that since he was appointed, he has created awareness and publicity on women rights to own land, “whether purchased or inherited.”

Beangar: “Every effort to survey the land has proven fruitless due to a conjoin team, Wotoe Youhn and Andy Sonyah, who resisted the survey.”

 He confirmed receiving money from Madam Johnson, but claimed it was the “survey fee.”

Meanwhile, the registered land surveyor assigned Nimba with offices in Ganta, Angeline K. Wuoh, with license #197, said, in July 2024, the survey team visited the area, but they too were “heavily resisted.”

Meanwhile, a call for justice to protect women land rights have suffered setback. As a result, family members have chased some of the women from their inherited husbands’ properties.

Police survey report submitted to Beangar also confirmed the disruption of the process in Sarlay and Paylay towns.

Police Sergent Jerome Langa submitted the report.

It indicated that Wotoe Youhn and Andy Sonyah disrupted the process.

The men have outrightly refused to be interviewed by and journalist, not even talk with police.