Society-Warning-Piah

Warning: MICAT Plans Legal Battle To Reclaim Kendeja Land

By Diedre S. Tarwo & Vangerline Kpotoe

MONROVIA, June 15 (LINA) – Several residents who have illegally settled on a vast portion of land belonging to the Government of Liberia in Marshall City, Margibi County, will be removed from the area soon, Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah has said.

Minister Piah said his institution will file a lawsuit against individuals occupying the 50 acres of land which is specifically owned by the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) and was designated for the construction of the Kendeja Culture Center.

Minister Piah said the government is resolved to construct the center despite not being able to achieve it for decades. 

“Half of the land has been encroached. People have built mansions on most parts of the land and are still building. This should sound as a warning, we will use the law,” Minister Piah told journalists in Monrovia Wednesday at the Ministry of Information regular press conference.

He added: “Even if you built something at the cost of 10 million on a property that does not belong to you, we will use the law to demolish it.”

The US$80,000 property, designated for the Kendeja Culture Center in Ben’s Town, on the Marshall highway in lower Margibi County, was purchased by the Government of Liberia in 2008.

People have illegally occupied the land since 2015, records from the Bureau of Cultural Affairs indicated.

The Kendeja Culture Center was established in the 1960’s as a means of showcasing Liberia’s rich cultural heritage through performing arts.

LINA DST/VK/WSG