Bong Citizens Criticize GOL’s Decision to Halt Bridge Project

By: Jangar Boimah Johnson I Bong County Correspondent

Gbarnga City, Bong County-Thursday, November 5, 2025-Several citizens in Bong County have expressed disenchantment in the Government of Liberia,  through the Ministry of Public Works decision to stop the erection of a bridge by  District #7, Representative and Political leader of Citizens Movement for Change, Hon. Musa Hassan Bility.

On October 3,2025, groundbreaking took place in Gbarnga City,  Bong County to erect a bridge with estimated cost of over Five Hundred Thousand United States Dollars (USD$500,0000),which will connect Civil Compound Community and Brooklyn Community over the Jor River.

Therefore, the Ministry of Public Works has rejected a request from Bility’s Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) to proceed with the construction of a US$500,000 bridge over the Jor River in Gbarnga. ‎ ‎In a communication dated October 6, 2025, and addressed to Representative Josiah Marvin Cole, CMC’s National Vice Chair for Operations, the Ministry demanded an immediate halt to the bridge project, citing unauthorized action and non-compliance with national engineering standards. ‎The CMC political movement has since acknowledged the Ministry’s suspension of the project.

November 4, 2025, it was a shocking news to residents of Bong County that the Government of Liberia has stopped the proposed bridge project that the Citizens Movement for Change officially disclosed its decision to construct for and on behalf of the people of the county ;particularly, residents around the Jor area.

In a telephone call on a local radio station in the County, the citizens narrated that, the information from the government to stop a development within the county has the propensity to undermine the county’s progress as far as development is concerned.

Ma-Musu Kollie a resident of Kokoyah road, who phoned in to the local station, said it was frustrating to hear such bad news that the government has put a halt to the construction of a bridge that could have brought greater relief to citizens by boosting economic activities.

Madam Kollie emphasized, the need for development not to be politicized, adding that this would hurt and undermined development in the county. She then called on the Unity Party led Rescue Mission Administration to allow the bridge construction to proceed.

Another citizen, Mr. Tokpah Flomo of Brooklyn Community recounted that decision by the Ministry of Public Works to halt the bridge project, is not the solution they the direct beneficiaries were expecting. He wondered why ever since they had cried repeatedly but the government and nobody came to their aid but it is now that the CMC decided to help through Representative Marvin Cole that the government have decided to politicize the process against their interest.

He further narrated that , for the past 10 years, “We have appealed to this and past government to erect a bridge in this place that will connect the two communities; a major crossing point,  but to no avail till this 2025, when our lawmaker spoke with Hon. Bility to erect a bridge over the Jor river.”

“This is so wrong and not right at all and we are appealing to government to allow the CMC construct our bridge for us,” Flomo sadly concluded.

The pronouncement made by the government through the Ministry of Public Works to stop the erection of the bridge in Gbarnga City, has sparked mixed reactions among the people of Bong County.

It can be recalled that in October 2025, CMC formally submitted the required technical design documents for the proposed 38-meter bridge to the Ministry for review and subsequent approval. The Ministry acknowledged receipt of the documents but stated that no further work should proceed until all necessary technical studies are completed and approved.

In a letter signed by Minister Roland Layfette Giddings and addressed to CMC’s National Chairman, Mr. James M.V. Yougie, the Ministry revealed that the government has already budgeted for the bridge project and is finalizing technical documents for the procurement of a contractor. ‎ ‎“

Meanwhile, residents of Civil Compound Community and parts adjacent have described the Ministry’s action as a “politically contrived design to deny CMC from gaining the political dividends this bridge construction could have given party,” accusing the government of trying to undermine Bility’s growing influence in the county.

Well, residents remain hopeful that now that Government has decided to undertake the project, there will be no further delays but to man up and provide a quality bridge which will eventually improve connectivity, boost livelihoods, and speed up development in the region. The initiative, according to Bility, was prompted by a request from Rep. Josiah Marvin Cole, whom he praised for prioritizing his constituents’ needs.