Tribal Certificate Inventory Gains Momentum The subject of tribal certificates is one of the most politically sensitive and controversial issues confronting the Land Commission (LC). However, it is essential to address this concern because many Liberians regard tribal certificates as equivalent to a deed, which of course they are NOT. Therefore, as part of its mandate the Land Commission is conducting a national inventory of Tribal Certificates (TCs). By inventory, the Commission is scanning and recording the certificates, which is not an authentication of tribal certificates. The objective of this exercise is to provide the Commission with an overview of the number of TCs and the land space they represent across the country, as well as their locations and ownerships. Based on consultations between the Commission and various partners, the Commission implemented three pilot projects; one in Fissebu, Zorzor District, Lofa County, Pleebo, Sodeken District, Maryland County and the other in Kakata District, Margibi County. These areas were selected because of the number of satellite villages bordering them, thereby providing sufficient diversity for the full implementation of the exercise. It was also due to the number of potential land cases and the possible differentials and variations in their individual cases. Based on experiences gained from the three pilots, the Land Commission has embarked upon a national inventory of tribal certificates starting with Margibi County. During the start of the recording and scanning exercises in Gibi District, Margibi County, the Paramount Chief of Worhn, Peter K.W. Barnyou praised the Government of Liberia, the Land Commission and partners for their far-sightedness to conduct an inventory of of tribal certificates. He attributed most of the land disputes in his district to fraudulent tribal certificates. “People claim to own large portions of land on their tribal certificates even though, in reality, such large tracks of lands are no available in this county. This result into confusion over who owns what and the boundaries of these ownerships,” the Paramount Chief stated. The District Commissioner, Mr. Amos Z. Boyer noted that in order to minimize land “halahala”, in the County, the recording and validating of tribal certificates is of prime importance. He made mention of the numerous land disputes in Margibi County, which turned violent and resulted in the loss of lives in recent times. He said the Land Commission has been going around the country sensitizing people about their land rights, which is remarkable, but has never happened before. At the start of the recording and scanning exercises in Worhn recently, more than 100 persons including youth, men, women and the elderly jam-packed the Administrative Building to process their tribal certificates. With technical support from the Center for National Documents & Records Agency (CNDRA) and the Department of Lands, Surveys & Cartography (DLSC), Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy, the Land Commission has trained several young professionals who are handling the documentation of the tribal certificates as well as the Global Positioning System (GPS) for identifying the locations of land holdings. Funding for the initial project in Margibi comes through the Land Policy & Institutional Support Project (LPIS), funded through the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The inventory must cover the entire country in order for the commission to have a full account. For that to happen, the Government of Liberia needs to provide counter-part funding, to cover staffing, materials, equipment and other costs. Such counterpart funding assures collaborating partners that the Government is committed to the mandate of the Commission, and in ensuring equal access to land and security of tenure for all Liberians. LC staff (yellow t-shirts) verifying tribal certificates that were recorded in Kakata District Vetting of tribal certificates in Richard Town Recording and scanning of TCs in Worhn Huge turnout of TC holders in Worhn LC Staff and Worhn District Officials .