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The Grand Gedeh Bar Association, in collaboration with the Grand Gedeh County Legislative Caucus, wrapped up a two-day community leaders meeting with stakeholders from neighboring communities near the Ivory Coast. The forum was attended by district commissioners, youth leaders, Grand Gedeh Legislative Caucus Chairman Alex C. Grant, and Senator Marshall A. Dennis, women leaders, traditional leaders, and local chiefs, among others.
The meeting followed numerous complaints about land disputes in the county, most especially in border communities, which involved locals demarcating forest lands amid ongoing reports that citizens of Burkina Faso had been crossing illegally into Liberia.
Burkina Faso have reportedly entered into a lease agreement with local communities in several border cities with claims and counterclaims regarding the lease.
Based on these factors, several local communities fear they are unwilling to accept these Burkinabees, while others fear losing their land to illegal immigrants.
Grand Gedeans has asked its legislators to intervene to get illegal immigrants to leave the county.
During the special meeting, the Grand Gedeh Bar Association, led by attorney Alphonsus Zeon, reviewed the ECOWAS Protocol and raised awareness about customary land rights and the new land law.
According to lawyer Zeon, the ECOWAS Protocol establishes that citizens of member states have free movement within the region. He further explained that they only need to obtain legal documents and enter through recognize border entrances.
At the end of the meeting, the citizens of the bordering towns represented at the meeting signed a joint resolution that will allow those immigrants to remain in Liberia, if only they can obtain valid work and residence permits and health certificates. Editing by Jonathan Browne
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