MONROVIA, November 17(LINA) -President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has observed that nowadays it is much more difficult for government to acquire public land for projects like the National Housing Authority because of encroachments on public land around Monrovia and its environs.
She has, however, assured Liberians that her government will pursue all avenues to embark on such projects.
According to an Executive Mansion release, the Liberian leader was speaking Saturday at a program marking the official issuance of title deeds to 53 residents of the E. Jonathan Goodridge, New Georgia, Old Matadi and Steven Tolbert Estates at the headquarters of the NHA in central Monrovia.
She urged former tenants of the National Housing Authority (NHA) to maintain the homes that they now own and ensure that their communities set examples for others.
This, she said, will encourage the NHA to continue building housing for low income Liberians.
“We’ve already identified certain sites that will be the next estates and in this budget year; construction will start on some of those sites so we will be able to multiply the number of people that would own their own homes,” President Sirleaf assured.
The Liberian President also used the opportunity to endorse the recommendations of the various community leaders that they must now own the process rather than the NHA since the units in these communities are their personal property.
“That means that they will take responsibility; organize themselves in leadership groups that will ensure that the communities are kept clean, houses are maintained properly, and that there will be improvements in these communities,” President Sirleaf said.
She assured that it is government’s responsibility, through the NHA, to do its bid by ensuring that facilities like schools, markets, clinics and even playgrounds that are lacking in these communities will be added.
President Sirleaf expressed gratitude to the late President William R. Tolbert for his farsighted vision of building homes for the low income and less fortunate in society.
In separate remarks earlier, the community leaders of the Stephen Tolbert and E. Jonathan Goodridge Estates, Jura Lynch and Deddeh Antoine, said since the issue of ownership of the various units no longer exists it was their hope that the NHA would now be in the position to turn over the estates to the residents who now personally own the units for administration.
Earlier, NHA Managing Director Samuel Wlue welcomed President Sirleaf and other distinguished guests from the various estates to the new offices of the NHA behind the Executive Mansion. He promised to ensure that all tenants who have completed the requirements to receive title deeds are given them in the shortest time.
LINA