A veteran Liberian journalist and outspoken critic of unjust demolitions John Kollie, , has leveled serious accusations against the University of Liberia (UL) administration.
Speaking from the Louisiana extension of the Fendell campus, Kollie accused the UL administration of colluding with unethical land dealers to excavate and sell off land, thereby destroying natural vegetation, the landscape, and the terrain.
Kollie, who is the Founder and Director of the Liberia Media for Democratic Initiatives (LMDI), emphasized that the UL administration’s actions directly contradict their stated goal of expanding the Fendell campus.
He pointed to ongoing activities where dirt from the demolished areas is allegedly being sold to road construction companies and individuals for backfilling wetlands in Monrovia and surrounding areas.
“The UL administration’s involvement with former land dealers in selling dirt from Fendell at $10 per dump truck undermines their commitment to community development,” Kollie stated.
He challenged the UL administration to disprove these claims by halting the visible excavation and sale of the land.
Expressing disappointment over the deviation from the promised campus expansion, Kollie highlighted the university’s earlier commitment to establishing agricultural projects on the Fendell land.
The veteran journalist also condemned the displacement of thousands of residents in 2016, criticizing the lack of proper notice or compensation, which he described as a violation of international human rights norms.
Kollie called on President Joseph Nyumah Boakai and the current government to intervene, urging UL to immediately stop the destruction of the land.
He referred to former President George Weah’s government’s partial reparations to victims, asserting that no entity other than UL should lay claim to the Fendell land.
In 2016, under the influence of then-Vice President for Administration Weade Kobah Wureh Bolay, the UL administration, with the backing of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government, demolished over 3,000 homes and displaced tens of thousands, allegedly claiming ownership without legal documentation.
“It’s clear that UL and the government lack legal ownership of the land, as they have failed to produce a valid title deed,” Kollie added, questioning the legitimacy of their actions in Liberian courts.
In response, LMDI, through its Executive Director, reaffirmed its commitment to fostering dialogue and debate through platforms like The Dialogue, Ducor Debates, and Tomorrow’s People, supported by USAID INTERNEWS-Liberia Media Activity.
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