Plenary of the House of Representatives has summoned Defense Minister Geraldine George over complaints of demolition of several properties along the Duazon area including properties belonging to Sinoe County Electoral District #1 Representative Thomas Romeo Quioh.
According to the House public affairs section, Plenary’s decision was triggered by a communication from Representative Quioh bringing his colleagues attention to the issue.
In his communication, the Sinoe County lawmaker stated that on May 30, 2024 whilst in section, exactly at 1:38 pm, he received a call from his construction engineer on his project site informing him that armed soldiers under the command of Major Gen. Davidson T. Forleh, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, pulled out of the Edward Beyan Kesselly Military’s Barrack, allegedly on the order of Minister George, and marched on his 4-bed room, state-of the- art residential building under construction.
Representative Quioh told Plenary that the building sits on one acre of land situated at the back of the currently constructed LTA Headquarters adjacent the Millennium Group of Companies, opposite the Edward Beyan Kesselly Military Barracks on the RIA Highway, owned by a Ghanaian businessman known as Mohammed Abdullah, who is allegedly a personal friend of Mr. Joe Dorah, former Land Commissioner of Margibi County.
According to him, the land on which the construction is taking place, as a government official and a law-abiding citizen, cognizant of the legal means to acquire property, he sought advice and inquired on the legitimacy of the property in question before investing his resources; void of the use of political influence, he acquired the property through all legal means before erecting his house.
“My land was purchased on February 27, 2024, probated on March 18, 2024 and registered with the Liberia Land Authority on March 19, 2024, Vol.3-2024, Page 0300005039,” Representative Quioh said.
He said the land was bought from one Mr. J. Robert Johnson, Administrator, while E. John Jaywheh and Youmonyou P. Shideryou are the Administrators. Rep. Roland Opee Cooper, Representative of Margibi County District#1, Emmett Rose, Konah Peter and Saybah Saryon witnessed the process.
“Honorable Speaker and distinguished colleagues, the demolition of my house and a warehouse, stocked with building materials cost is put at US$121,943.00. When the warehouse was demolished, the soliders that went with a yellow machine for the demolition exercise were seen looting the materials and taking them away in pickups. My construction engineer who was videotaping the event, phone was seized by the armed soldiers. As we speak, they are still in possession of the phone,” the communication said.
The lawmaker prayed Plenary to cite the Minister of National Defense, Hon. Geraldine George, The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia, Col. Davidson T. Forleh to show cause why these officials should not be held liable for bringing wanton and unwarranted pain to him and other families.
Meanwhile, following the reading of the communication, Plenary took a decision to have both Defense Minister and Chief of Staff appear in Plenary on Thursday, 27 June.
