In Zwedru, Grand Gedeh, over 30 employees of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA) are currently undergoing a 3-day training workshop on the LLA counties office Standard Operating Procedures, with participants being drawn from LLA counties offices in 5 Southeastern Counties including Maryland, Grand Kru, Sinoe, River Gee, and Grand Gedeh Counties, respectively. Giving the overview of the occasion on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, the Vice Chair of LLA, Madam P. Bloh Sayeh revealed that the three-day workshop is intended to widen the understanding of the LLA counties.

She revealed that similar workshop will be held in Gbarnga which will be hosting participants from Lofa, Nimba, and Margibi, while Buchanan will have hosting participants from Grand Cape Mount, Gbarpolu, Rivercess, Bomi, and Montserrado Counties. According to Madam Sayeh, there was an assessment done for the Land offices in Liberia and one of the outcomes of the assessment is the need for a Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) which covers the mandate of LLA. The LLA Vice Chairman noted that the board of commissioners all agreed that there is a need for a comprehensive SOP for the County Land offices and decided that there should be a workshop to prepare the LLA workers along with partners and Civil Society Organizations.

She disclosed that the ongoing training is sponsored by the Swedish Land Agency LANTMÄTERIAT for the local staff in the use of the SOP manual in ensuring maximum satisfaction for the customers.She expressed appreciation on behalf of the LLA Chairman, J. Adam Manobah, all Commissioners, staff of the LLA, and partners most especially those who contributed financially to the creation of the SOP manual. She named USAID, UN Women, World Bank, SIDA, Civil Society Organizations, Government Stakeholders, and most importantly His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah President of the Republic of Liberia for his numerous supports to reach this point. Also, speaking at the opening ceremony of the three days’ workshop, Commissioner J. Josephus Burgess, Sr. who pointed out that the essence of the training is to improve the government’s decentralization policy.

He indicated that for any administration to succeed, it must be innovative by that motivation will engulf staff for the achievement of the organization’s goals. He emphasized the need for trust in any work environment. Commissioner Burgess called on all participants to pay more attention to the training to take the lessons learned to their respective Counties. For his part, Director Samuel Kpakio termed the occasion as important in the execution of the work of LLA staff across the Country. He called on participants to be attentive because the LLA administration wants to see that professional services are rendered to its numerous customers. The 3-day training workshop in Grand Gedeh County started on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, and is expected to end on Friday, June 3, 2022. The opening occasion of the workshop was graced by Grand Gedeh County local authorities represented by the County superintendent Hon. Kai Garlo Farley, the mass media amongst others.