The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has welcomed the arrival of 30 pieces of heavy earthmoving equipment in Bong County, Liberia, as a significant step towards improving the county's road network. EPA Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo, says the machines could turn isolation into opportunity for farmers, traders, and rural families. He commended President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for prioritizing road development in his administration's agenda.
Dr. Yarkpawolo noted that passable roads are crucial for food security, farm income, and the daily survival of rural households. He referenced a saying by President Boakai, "People do not eat road, but it is road that can make people eat." The EPA chief explained that farmers in Bong County face significant challenges in getting their produce to market due to poor road conditions, which can lead to crop spoilage and financial losses.
The arrival of the machines is expected to ease transportation problems that have long held back farming and trade in Bong County, one of Liberia's most important agricultural counties. Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized that agriculture and infrastructure should not be treated as separate items on the government's to-do list. He stressed that roads connect the hands that grow food to the households that need it, enabling farmers to earn a living and feed their families.
The EPA chief highlighted the far-reaching impact of poor road conditions on the county's economy and households. He noted that market women struggle to get supplies, traders lose business, and families in towns and cities pay more for food due to high transportation costs. Dr. Yarkpawolo also emphasized that dependable roads are essential for children to access schools and clinics, and for patients to receive urgent medical care.
Dr. Yarkpawolo believes that sustained rehabilitation of rural roads could open doors for residents who have waited years for improved access. He noted that farmers who can move crops quickly and cheaply stand a better chance of earning enough to enlarge their farms and improve conditions at home. Traders would also benefit, as they could reach more villages, buy directly from producers, and carry goods to bigger markets.
The EPA chief emphasized that the arrival of the machines is just the beginning, and that practical steps must be taken to maintain them and ensure they produce measurable benefits. He warned that without disciplined management and steady attention to servicing and operating needs, the machines' usefulness will fade. Dr. Yarkpawolo also urged fairness in deployment, insisting that communities facing the toughest travel problems should get a real share of the benefit.
Dr. Yarkpawolo concluded that the true value of the machines will be measured in roads made passable, travel made easier, and livelihoods improved. He stressed that road work must deliver tangible gains, including easier movement, better market access, and more earning opportunities for rural households. The EPA chief welcomed the machines with pride as a son of Bong County, and expressed hope that they would bring about positive change in the county.
Key points
- The arrival of 30 pieces of heavy earthmoving equipment in Bong County is expected to improve the county's road network and ease transportation problems for farmers and traders.
- The EPA chief emphasized that passable roads are crucial for food security, farm income, and the daily survival of rural households.
- The machines' usefulness will depend on practical steps taken to maintain them and ensure they produce measurable benefits.
