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By Ben Brooks, LAEJN River Gee Coordinator
Grand Gedeh, Liberia – A 30-year land lease agreement signed between Grand Gedeh County authorities and Burkinabé investor Boubou Sebu has generated both excitement and concern in the county. The deal grants Sebu exclusive rights to develop a 500-acre plot in the B’hai Administrative District for cocoa cultivation, marking a major step toward agricultural investment in the region.
The formal signing ceremony, held over the weekend at the historic Superintendent Tubman Palace home office, was attended by county officials and local stakeholders. Grand Gedeh County Superintendent Alex Chersia Grant detailed the financial terms, noting that Sebu will pay USD $150,000 during the first 10 years of the lease, with the county expected to receive a total of USD $600,000 over the 30 years. Funds will reportedly go into the County Development Fund to benefit local communities.
“Over the full 30-year period, the county is expected to receive a total of USD $600,000. This is a long-term investment that will create jobs, stimulate economic activity, and contribute to the sustainable development of Grand Gedeh,” Superintendent Alex Grant said.
County Attorney E. Wilkins Nah assured that the contract complies with all legal requirements and includes environmental safeguards, with land use strictly limited to cocoa production.
Investor Boubou Sebu expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged responsible land use. “I am honored by the trust shown by the people and leadership of Grand Gedeh. This land will be used solely for cocoa farming. We aim to boost agricultural output, create employment, and contribute meaningfully to Liberia’s growing cocoa sector,” Sebu said.
However, the agreement has sparked criticism from civil society and lawmakers concerned about land rights and community involvement. The National Union of Community Forestry Development Committee (NUCFDC) raised questions about the transparency of the lease and the status of over 500 acres of land reportedly executed by the Grand Gedeh County authority, describing the process as cloudy and potentially harmful to local communities.
In a statement, Andrew Y.Y. Zelemen, Head of the NUCFDC Secretariat, said the decision has left him “deeply troubled” and raised multiple questions regarding land ownership and community rights.
“One of my foremost concerns is the issue of land ownership,” Zelemen said. “Is this land government property, or is it customary land belonging to the community? If it is government land, the process through which it was acquired must be transparent, and the rightful landowners should have been consulted and compensated.”
He emphasized that if the land is customary, strict procedures must be followed, including formalizing ownership and establishing a Community Land Development and Management Committee (CLDMC) before any leasing agreements.
Zelemen also questioned the management of proceeds from the deal, which reportedly will be directed to the County Development Fund. “What tangible benefits will the community receive? How will these funds be managed, and who will be held accountable to ensure they are used effectively and equitably?” he asked.
The NUCFDC official criticized the terms of the lease, noting that a 30-year agreement could jeopardize the future of an entire generation. “Frankly, this deal appears poorly conceived and executed. A 30-year lease is essentially signing away a generation’s future for what amounts to peanuts,” Zelemen said.
He called on local authorities to ensure transparency, accountability, and respect for the rights of communities affected by land deals. “The people deserve better,” he added.
Representative Jacob Debee of Electoral District #3 in Grand Gedeh County also criticized the deal, citing provisions of Liberia’s Land Rights Act (LRA). He stressed that only the Liberia Land Authority can conduct confirmatory surveys and issue statutory deeds for customary land, and that communities themselves must approve any lease agreements.
Rep. Debee said he had received several calls and read public concerns from his constituents about the controversial forest land deal. After conducting his own research, the lawmaker outlined key provisions of the Land Rights Act to clarify ownership, authority, and community rights over customary land.
According to Rep. Debee, Section 36 of the LRA states that only the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) — not local authorities — can authorize or conduct confirmatory surveys to demarcate customary land boundaries. “The confirmatory survey is done in coordination with the community and serves to define the boundaries of land that the community owns under customary law,” he said.
He further cited Section 37, which mandates that once the confirmatory survey is completed, the LLA shall issue a statutory land deed in the name of the community as the legal owner. “The county authority has no lawful power to title customary land in the county’s name,” Rep. Debee emphasized.
“Any attempt by local or government officials to appropriate or lease customary land without community consent and due process violates Section 38 of the LRA. Such actions are void and have no legal effect,” Rep. Debee said.
The controversy highlights the tension between attracting foreign investment for agricultural development and safeguarding the rights of local communities. While county officials tout the cocoa project as a pathway to economic growth and job creation, civil society organizations and lawmakers call for strict adherence to land ownership laws and greater transparency in decision-making.
