Bong County, Liberia: Menleleh Incorporated (MI) has presented a second batch of legally registered land deeds to eight beneficiaries of its Women’s Land Rights and Access to Gender-Based Violence Support Services Project in Gbarnga.

The acquisition of the land deeds was made possible with funding from the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia through ForumCiv Liberia.

Speaking during the presentation at MI’s office in Gbarnga recently, Program Officer Papa K. Sackie explained that the intervention was part of the organization’s efforts to promote women’s ownership of land.

Mr. Sackie noted that one of the key ways women can secure land ownership is by legally registering their properties with the appropriate institutions; a process that has been a major challenge for women, people with disabilities, and youth due to financial constraints.

“It was because of this situation that Menleleh Incorporated stepped in to assist those captured under the project who did not have legal ownership of their land,” he said.

He disclosed that although the project initially targeted ten beneficiaries, MI managed to secure 13 original land deeds due to the high demand from community members, especially women-for legal ownership of land.

“Under this project, we intended to work with ten beneficiaries, but we exceeded that number to thirteen. This shows the high demand from vulnerable people who need assistance in securing land ownership,” Mr. Sackie added.

According to him, the first batch of five deeds was previously presented to beneficiaries, and the second batch of eight brings the total to 13 recipients; marking the completion of the Women’s Land Rights and Access to Gender-Based Violence Support Services Project.

Mr. Sackie also dismissed rumors that MI was extorting money from beneficiaries to process their land deeds.

He clarified that the organization covered every cost associated with legal registration and expressed gratitude to the people and government of Sweden, through ForumCiv Liberia, for making the initiative possible.

Officially presenting the deeds, a delegation from ForumCiv and the Swedish Embassy led by Mr. Henry Sumoiwuo commended MI for its outstanding work in supporting women’s access to land.

He said his organization was pleased with the project’s outcome and encouraged the beneficiaries to make maximum use of their legally registered properties.

Also speaking, Mr. Aaron Sackie-Fenlah, head of the Bong County Council and the Bong County Civil Society Organizations, thanked MI for the successful implementation of the project.

He appealed to ForumCiv and other partners to continue supporting such initiatives given the high demand for women’s land ownership.

For their part, the beneficiaries, most of them struggling mothers, expressed joy and relief at finally becoming legal landowners.

Many said they had been at risk of losing their land due to the lack of legal documents, but are now grateful to MI and its partners for the support.

Despite the high cost of legally registering land, the beneficiaries clarified that they did not pay a single cent to Menleleh Incorporated during the process. They expressed surprise at the false rumors claiming that beneficiaries were asked to pay money.

“We didn’t give a cent to Menleleh Incorporated for our land deeds. They did everything free of charge for us. People should stop spreading lies that we were charged for this project,” the beneficiaries explained.

They further promised to make good use of their land rather than leaving it idle.

Written By: Melvin Siakor/mpzsiakor1847@gmail.com