GBARNGA, Bong County – Bong County Administrative Officer Sam Elliott has called for calm and mutual respect among residents following an emergency meeting with community stakeholders over a dispute surrounding the Gbarnga General Cemetery.
The meeting brought together representatives of the Muslim and Christian communities, city officials, and other stakeholders to discuss concerns regarding the cemetery site, which Elliott said has been used by residents for burials for more than four decades.
According to Elliott, the meeting was convened after the office of the Gbarnga City Mayor filed a complaint about activities at the cemetery. The complaint was forwarded to the city solicitor and copied to the Bong County Superintendent’s Office, prompting authorities to organize discussions among the concerned parties.
“The meeting was to bring together the Muslim community, the Christian community, the city mayor and other stakeholders so we could find a common understanding through dialogue,” Elliott said. “The meeting was fruitful.”
Elliott explained that the mayor’s complaint raised several concerns, including allegations that some members of the Muslim community began preparing grave sites in an area where other people are already buried. The mayor also reportedly said the city administration had not been consulted and that no permit had been issued for the activity.
Based on those concerns, the mayor ordered the suspension of the work, a move that drew objections from some members of the Muslim community. Elliott said a separate complaint was also sent by members of the Muslim community to the Ministry of Internal Affairs regarding the mayor’s decision to halt the activities and seize materials.
Following the exchange of complaints, the matter was referred to the county attorney and the city solicitor for legal guidance, after which stakeholders agreed to hold a conference to discuss the issue.
Elliott said the government will conduct an investigation into the ownership and legal status of the cemetery land, including claims that a deed exists covering approximately nine acres of the property.
“For now, we are not going into that aspect,” he said. “When the superintendent returns, we will invite the grantor and begin investigating how the land was acquired and whether it is government or public land.”
The Bong County administrator noted that the cemetery has been used by residents since the 1970s and 1980s. He added that he personally buried a relative there in 1987, emphasizing that many families in the county have loved ones buried at the site.
Elliott stressed that authorities are prioritizing peace and coexistence in Bong County while the matter is being resolved. “We live together in Bong County—the Muslim, the Christian, Mandingo, Bassa, Gola and others,” he said. “We have intermarriages here, and we must continue to live together peacefully. We don’t want small issues to spark conflict in the county.”
He also urged residents to respect local authorities and religious differences while the government works toward a solution.
According to Elliott, another meeting will be convened once the Bong County Superintendent returns to the county. Representatives of the Muslim and Christian communities, along with city officials, will participate in that conference to determine the final resolution.
While he could not give an exact date, Elliott said the superintendent is expected to return before the end of the month, after which authorities hope to settle the matter.
In a final message to residents—especially as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches—Elliott urged citizens to remain calm and avoid escalating tensions. “We don’t want religious conflict that will disturb the peace we enjoy in Bong County,” he said. “People should respect one another and maintain the peace while the issue is being addressed.”
