The Liberia Land Authority (LLA) on Friday, October 31, 2025, during a press conference, announced the immediate dismissal of four of its employees following administrative investigations conducted by the institution.
Reading the official statement, the Director General of the Liberia Land Authority, Samuel F. Kpakio, disclosed that the Authority has also revoked the development grant deed previously issued to the Grand Gedeh local authority for land located in the B’hai Administrative District, Grand Gedeh County.
According to Hon. Kpakio, the decision followed the discovery that the county superintendent had acted unilaterally without proper authorization by entering into a lease agreement with a Burkinabé national for 500 acres of land in the B’hai Administrative District. He noted that this action constitutes a clear violation of Article 49 of the Land Rights Act of 2018, which governs the sale, lease, and transfer of customary land.
Further investigations revealed that the Superintendent and the County Land Administrator of Grand Gedeh misled the management of the LLA during the process of signing the land deed, bypassing all required procedures. Additionally, the land in question was identified as customary land owned by residents of Grand Gedeh County. Under Article 32 of the Land Rights Act of 2018, such land is protected and recognized as communal property based on long-term traditional occupancy and community use.
In view of these findings, the LLA has suspended Mr. Paye Freeman, Grand Gedeh Land Administrator, and Mr. David N. Togbasie, County Land Dispute Officer, pending the outcome of a full investigation into their alleged involvement in misleading the Authority.
Meanwhile, in a related development, following a comprehensive internal review conducted in accordance with Chapter 4.2.3 of the Standing Orders of the Civil Service Agency, the management of the Liberia Land Authority has dismissed four employees for misapplication of resources, misconduct, insubordination, and administrative malpractice all of which constitute grave violations of the Civil Service Code of Conduct and the LLA’s internal policies.
Those dismissed are:
- Mr. Paul A. Tolbert, Assistant Director, Alternative Dispute Resolution Division
- Mr. James Perkins, Case Investigator, Alternative Dispute Resolution Division
- Mr. Earlyn O. Cooper, Database Officer, Alternative Dispute Resolution Division
- Mr. Steve Kennedy, Assistant Director, Public Land Vetting Division
The dismissal takes effect Friday, October 31, 2025. The individuals have been instructed to surrender all LLA documents, properties, and materials to the Human Resources Division immediately. The Authority also announced that the names of the dismissed employees will be forwarded to the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) for further investigation. The general public is cautioned not to conduct any business with the dismissed individuals, as doing so will be at their own risk.
“These actions reaffirm the Liberia Land Authority’s unwavering commitment to integrity, accountability, and transparency in the execution of its statutory mandate,” Kpakio stated. He emphasized that due process was fully observed throughout the administrative and disciplinary proceedings, in compliance with the Labour Law and Civil Service Regulations of the Republic of Liberia.
The Director General encouraged the public to maintain confidence in the institution, noting that the LLA remains steadfast in upholding transparency, professionalism, and ethical conduct among its workforce. “With the continued support of the Government of Liberia, our international partners, and the Liberian people, we will build a land sector that promotes peace, ensures justice, and fosters sustainable development for all Liberians,” Kpakio concluded.
