Liberians 'pressured to sell land' for palm oil plantations Published duration 23 July 2015

image copyright Getty Images image caption The palm oil industry is worth billons across Africa

Communities in Liberia are being pressured to sign away their land to make way for palm oil plantations, according to a campaign group.

Global Witness says Liberians have been beaten and arrested for refusing, and wants a government investigation.

The group says that the company behind the plantations, Golden Veroleum (GVL), ramped up land clearances during the recent Ebola outbreak.

GVL said the allegations were "wrong" and "unfounded".

Palm oil is a multi-billion dollar global industry, almost every major food manufacturer uses it in their products.

The oil has become a cornerstone of Liberia's development.

In 2010, the Liberian government agreed to lease GVL 544,000 acres of land for over 60 years.

Global Witness says GVL dramatically expanded its operations in Liberia at the height of the Ebola outbreak last year, clearing thousands of acres of land while community support groups were busy dealing with the crisis.

GVL said in a statement that "70% of all land preparation activity in 2014 was undertaken prior to the major outbreak of Ebola in August, and from that point activity was significantly scaled back".

In the report, Global Witness calls for legislation to be passed recognising "that rural communities own their land".

In May, there were violent protests at a GVL plantation. Protestors in the south-east of the country reportedly took several people hostage before they were freed by police.

Related Topics Liberia