Grand Gedeh County — A dispute over 350 hectares of cocoa-producing land has intensified in Toe Town, B’hai Administrative District, Grand Gedeh County, with mining activities at the center of a growing legal confrontation between the Monjolo and Tarpeh families.
Documents reviewed by Verity News show that the Monjolo family is relying on records it says support its claim to the disputed property. The family alleges that mining activities are taking place on portions of the land without its authorization.
However, Bobby Toe, Focal Person for Toe Town Mines & Energy, maintains that the mining operation is legal.
Tensions reportedly escalated on September 18, 2026, when a confrontation allegedly occurred between miners and members of the Monjolo family. The Liberia National Police intervened, leading to the arrest of individuals identified as heads of the mining operation.
The matter is now before the Toe Town Magisterial Court, presided over by Judge Korva Jallah. The criminal allegations arising from the confrontation are being addressed separately from the broader ownership dispute.
Abraham Monjolo, co-administrator of the Monjolo family property, told Verity News that the family possesses documents supporting its ownership claim. He said several efforts have been made to have the matter referred to relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, a police charge sheet reviewed by Verity News lists Viola Tarpeh as facing allegations of Criminal Trespass, Criminal Mischief, Criminal Conspiracy and Criminal Facilitation. The allegations have not been proven in court.
Tarpeh declined to provide a substantive statement to police, according to her suspect statement form, but later told Verity News that mining was taking place with authorization from her uncle. She also claimed that relevant mining documents are in the possession of Lands and Mines authorities.
Verity News has not independently verified the legal status of the documents or the competing land claims.
The case has raised questions over land ownership, cocoa-farm boundaries and authorization for mining activities, with court proceedings expected to provide further clarity.
