As the people of Lofa celebrates victory over the deadly Ebola Virus with just 4 patients left at the ETU in Foya, another virus is again growing louder and dangerous. And that is: The Liberia Cocoa Corporation VS the Quardu Gboni land issue in the County which is now becoming a Human Rights issues. Over the past few weeks now, the citizens of Lofa specifically from the Quardu Gboni district has been crying out to the Government of Liberia, their Senators and Representatives to see reasons to put a stop to a fast moving concession agreement in favor of an already established Liberia Cocoa Corporation (LCC) based in a small town called Sasanor in the Quardu Gboni district. Quardu Gboni is one of the 6 districts in Lofa County and is predominantly inhabited by the Mandingoes tribes. The district capital of Quardu Gboni is Samodu. The population of this district is approximately 20 thousand and most of its inhabitants are farmers and business people. During the Liberian Civil war, this district which was then Chiefdom, suffered at the hand of the defunct National Patriotic Front of Liberia headed by now jailed former president Charles Taylor. During this deadly Ebola outbreak, this district was the hardest hit district in Liberia with over 228 persons dead. This Liberia Cocoa Corporation is presently operating in the district occupying over 2000 hectares and now asking for three times that amount already occupied (6000 hectares) which has brought this entire noise leading to a violence demonstration on October 20, 2014 while the president was touring the county to thank the people of Lofa for their courageous fight against the Deadly Ebola Virus that killed over 500 people in the county. From my own independent investigation, the citizens of the district appeared divided over this issue, while others are fighting to stop the passage of the concession agreement; others are fighting to retain the operation and expansion of the company because it was the mean by which the children of Quardu Gboni got job to do according to them. Speaking to me in Sasanor town( where the company is based), some citizens said that they welcome the Liberia Cocoa Company in their town and were willing to sit on a round table to settle the dispute. According to the chairlady of Sasanor town madam Magulanee Kamara, they only wanted for the LCC to fulfill her promised to the people but were not against any expansion of the LCC operation.The assistant youth leader of the town Mohammed Kromah also concurred with the Chairlady. Few days ago, a group of citizens and some workers of the company matched to the offices of the superintendent in Voinjama to present a petition statement of their disapproval to the action of their brothers and sisters in Monrovia that the Liberia Cocoa Company should not expand. This group was headed by one of Quardu Gboini opinion leader commonly called Big Sheriff. While others were angry about the planned expansion of the company and blaming the President and their two Senators Sumo G. Kupee and George T. Tengbeh of signing the agreement that would see their entire homeland swallow in the process. But yesterday the two Law makers spoke via telephone on a local radio talk show on Radio Kintoma ( one of the Leading radio station in Lofa) “Good Morning Lofa show” denying any hands in the agreement. They both denied that they ever affixed their signature on the agreement as claimed by the Citizens of Quardu Gboni in a petition that was to be presented to the president, Now, this story has become complicated with claims and counter claims from both groups. And, until we can understand the undertone and hands behind this entire fight for and against the Company, the struggle for justice continues as investigation continues. PHOTOS 1 IS BIG SHERIFF,2&3 A GROUP FROM QUARDU GBONI WHO ARE IN FAVOR OF THE AGREEMENT.PHOTOS 4-5 PROTESTERS AGAINST Remember: WE ARE FIGHTING TOGETHER AND WINING THE FIGHT ON EBOLA TOGETHER
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 03:47:17 +0000
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