J. Mason Kollie
Voinjama City, Lofa County-A Private Land Owner, James F. Kortee has alarmed over what it he described as the illegal use of his 250 acres land for burial activities by community members in Voinjama, near the Joint Security Checkpoint.
According to James Kortee, his land was used as a temporary burial site during 1990 civil war, which he did not blame the community for on grounds it was during the war period.
With the war being over long time, Kortee feels the community or government should stop using his land now as cemetery or graveyard.
“Now that the war is over and people are using my private land as a government cemetery in the city, this is wrong and I think it should stop immediately”, he said.
Amid failure to heed to his call, Kortee said he issued a public service announcement on the radio in Voijama but the public service announcement did not help.
“I sent announcement on all the radio stations in Voinjama to announce that there should be no burial site on my private property, but some people are still violating the mandate from me”, he explained.
His latest frustration is the new grave he met recently upon his return from Monrovia. “Yesterday I decided to visit my Land, fortunately for me I saw this new grave constructed by unknown people, so I immediately blocked the main entrance of the land that no car should enter.”
He vowed not to allow the front view of his land to be used for burial site, adding, he got news that some local officials are the ones authorizing people to bury on his land.
He alleged that officials of the Voinjama City Cooperation (VCC) and other local officials were charging LD$5,000 for burial spot, but said amount is often not reported to the Landlord/owner.
When contacted, authorities of the Voinjama City Cooperation confirmed they were allotting spots for burial on Kortee’s land. The administration of VCC promised to meet the aggrieved land owner, James F. Kortee for further negotiation.
According to Kortee, he acquired the 250 acres of land from his grandparents and now serves as the General Administrator for all properties belonging to his Great parents in Voinjama City and its environs.
He claimed to have all legal documents for the 250 acres. “My brother, I get all legal documents to the 250 acres of land you see here. I get the mother deeds for this property since former president William R Tolbert time, so no one can cheat me now. The war is over, so let the city authority find another site for burial or cemetery. I want my land”, James F. Kortee concluded in the interview with Rural Reporters News Network on October 19, 2025.
