Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09MONROVIA46
2009-01-15 08:07:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Monrovia
Cable title:  

LIBERIA: NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY ON OPIC PROJECT

Tags:  EINV EFIN ECON OPIC LI 
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VZCZCXRO7361
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0046 0150807
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 150807Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0691
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS MONROVIA 000046 

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS OPIC FOR BRUCE CAMERON

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV EFIN ECON OPIC LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY ON OPIC PROJECT

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000046

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

PLEASE PASS OPIC FOR BRUCE CAMERON

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: EINV EFIN ECON OPIC LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY ON OPIC PROJECT


1. (SBU) Summary: The new head of National Housing Authority has
assured Post that the title granting 100 acres of land to the
National Housing Authority for an OPIC-funded housing project is
clear, and that title to the remaining 200 acres should be confirmed
shortly. Post has asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of Land, Mines and Energy to reconfirm that information and
will convey their results separately. End Summary.


2. (SBU) During a December 16 meeting with Econ Chief, the new
Managing Director of the National Housing Authority (NHA),Stephen
Neufville, confirmed the OPIC-supported housing project by Broadcove
is a high priority and the title to the land is clear. (Comment:
Neufville took office after an audit of the NHA revealed systemic
management problems. He is committed to putting NHA on a sounder
footing. End comment.) Neufville said President Sirleaf had
refrained from signing new deeds until the proposed Land Commission
has had an opportunity to determine a consistent policy. However,
given the high priority she attaches to this housing project, she
made an exception in this case and convened the Minister of Lands,
Mines and Energy (MLME),the Minister of Justice, and the Minister
of Public Works to ask how a plot could be selected so the NHA could
proceed with the OPIC project.


3. (SBU) According to Neufville, the GOL's intention to use the land
was put out for 30 days public notice, and drew no contesting
claims. MLME also confirmed to GOL counterparts that there have
been no surveys of the land by private owners, which would be a
prerequisite for registering ownership. On those grounds, the GOL
is confident it has uncontested title to the land, and the President
signed the deed for the first 100 acres. Neufville said the public
comment period on the additional 200 acres started November 21, but
so far there have been no credible claims and the President should
be signing that deed shortly. (Note: Post is working to determine
the status of the second deed. End note.)


4. (SBU) President Sirleaf raised the Broadcove project in a
December 15 meeting with the Ambassador, and reiterated her
commitment to moving ahead. Given the history of land disputes in
Liberia, Post has also asked the Deputy Minister/Legal Counsellor at
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Krubo Kollie, and with the Minister
of Lands, Mines and Energy, Eugene Shannon, to confirm that
ownership of the land is undisputed. Kollie's office has
jurisdiction of the land registry, is charged with legal oversight
of the validity of deeds; she is having her staff research the deed.
Shannon, in a meeting with the Ambassador, January 7, was familiar
with the project and said he was not aware of any disputes over the
land. We will follow up with working levels at MLME on the status
of the deed for the second allocation of land.


5. (SBU) Comment: There is tremendous demand in Liberia for
already-constructed housing of the type envisioned for this project,
and for mortgage financing mechanisms that would make home ownership
feasible for low-income but employed Liberians. During our meeting
with Neufville at the NHA, we also informed him that OPIC is
interested in a range of projects in Liberia, not just the one
proposed by Broadcove. Neufville noted there might be possibilities
with mortgage or other arrangements with a U.S. affiliated bank or
other investors, and said Cellcom (a partially U.S. firm) and the
United Bank for Africa are working to develop a mortgage facility
aimed at members of the Diaspora. End comment.

THOMAS-GREENFIELD