Tensions Rise as FDA Agents Encounter Local Traditionalists in Liberia

Two FDA agents face significant peril in Grebo-Krahn National Park; Warden Selma Kolako escaped a potential arrest while Ranger Oliver Jelleh remains missing, prompting concerns over traditional authority interference. Familial appeals have been made for intervention as community tensions rise over cocoa farming issues and dissatisfaction with park management. The FDA’s silence amidst these concerns poses barriers to resolution.

In the Grebo-Krahn National Park, two agents from the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) find themselves in peril. Zone Warden Selma Kolako narrowly escaped an arbitrary arrest, whilst Ranger Oliver Jelleh remains hostage for over a week, after Kolako allegedly defied a traditional mandate prohibiting FDA activities in certain areas. Family members of Jelleh expressed concern for his well-being, fearing severe repercussions if authorities do not intervene promptly.

Kolako recounted a tense escape, responding to urgent warnings that he was in danger. “I was in bed… when I heard a persistent knocking at my room door… ‘Kolako, you must leave right now before the worst happens.'” He fled quickly on his motorbike, leaving behind his belongings as he learned soon after that his home had been vandalized.

The FDA official revealed a reluctance to engage in operations in Grand Gedeh County due to increasing tensions with local residents focused on cocoa farming. Kolako warned that continued unrest could result in substantial loss of the park’s land to locals and migrants aiming for industrial cocoa cultivation. The conflict first emerged in January 2025 when local residents, supported by traditional leaders, obstructed FDA patrols, part of an essential eco-guard program aimed at sustainable park management.

Tensions escalated in February as residents in the Glio and Twarbo Chiefdoms prevented FDA operations related to the park, citing dissatisfaction with promised benefits since the park’s establishment in 2017. The communities sought a management plan revision to align future benefits with governmental priorities. In response, Evangeline Swope, FDA Protected Area Manager, called for a stakeholders’ meeting to address local concerns.

However, participation in the meeting did not ameliorate tensions. Supporters of the local traditional priest initially refused the invitation, though they later attended after intervention from Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely. Following the meeting, recipients of letters regarding the situation faced questioning by traditional authorities, resulting in fines imposed on them. Despite the ongoing crisis, the FDA has remained uncommunicative about the situation. Grand Gedeh County Superintendent Alex Grant has also yet to make a public statement to address the unrest.

The ongoing situation in the Grebo-Krahn National Park underscores the tensions between the Forestry Development Authority and local traditional authorities amid disputes over land use and resource management. With Ranger Oliver Jelleh still unaccounted for and local communities feeling unheard, urgent intervention from relevant authorities is essential to prevent potential escalation. The circumstances highlight a critical juncture in the relationship between governmental agencies and community stakeholders, necessitating dialogue and strategic management moving forward.

Original Source: www.liberianobserver.com