Dilapidated Office: Leaking Roof, No Furniture, No Mobility: Chedepo District Commissioner Decries Current State

By: Ben T.C. Brooks |River Gee Correspondent

River Gee County |Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025 | Nearly two years after assuming office, the Commissioner of Chedepo Administrative District, River Gee County Koffa Norrig, is sounding a renewed alarm over the worsening condition of the district’s administrative headquarters.

According to him, the facility has become “unfit for public service” and is severely undermining effective local governance.

Commissioner Norrig described the building’s condition as “deplorable, embarrassing, and unsuitable for any serious government work,” noting that essential administrative functions have become increasingly difficult due to the deteriorated state of the structure.

The commissioner detailed multiple structural defects affecting the headquarters. The roof leaks extensively, sections of the ceiling have collapsed, walls are cracked, and several windows and doors are either damaged or completely missing.

The lack of proper security and protection from weather has left staff and important documents vulnerable.

The rainy season, he noted, worsens the situation. Rainwater often floods the office, halting workflow and endangering records.

The administrative headquarters also lacks basic furniture such as desks, chairs, and benches.

As a result, employees and community members frequently stand or sit on makeshift materials during meetings and official business.

“It is shocking that a district headquarters the heartbeat of local governance lacks simple sitting capacity,” Commissioner Norrig lamented. “People stand for hours just to receive services or attend meetings. This is not acceptable.”

Despite several complaints, Commissioner Norrig says the situation remains unchanged.

He revealed that he has formally notified River Gee County Superintendent Mike Swengbeh, but no action has been taken.

Months ago, County Engineer Sackor visited Chedepo to assess the damage and prepare renovation estimates, yet no updates have followed.

“The engineer came, assessed the place, and took estimates, but since then, I haven’t received any feedback,” he added.

The worsening conditions frequently make the office unusable. According to Norrig, working during rainfall is nearly impossible.

“When it rains, I cannot even come to work because the whole building leaks,” he stressed. “The doors and windows are broken. I’m calling on the authorities to intervene quickly.”

Beyond the dilapidated facility, the commissioner highlighted the lack of mobility as another major setback. For more than two years, his office has operated without a single motorcycle, hindering movement across the district’s vast communities.

“As district commissioner, mobility is not a luxury it is a necessity,” he emphasized. “We cannot respond quickly to emergencies, mediate conflicts, or conduct supervisory visits. The lack of transport is slowing everything down.”

Commissioner Norrig also addressed rumors alleging he has been handling criminal cases. He firmly denied the claims, explaining that the district has lacked an assigned stipendiary magistrate for over two years, leaving a judicial vacuum.

“I want to make this absolutely clear: I do not handle criminal cases,” he said. “Without a magistrate, cases that require legal processing are left hanging. This denies citizens timely access to justice.”

Residents currently travel long distances for legal matters, a burden many describe as unacceptable for one of the county’s largest districts.

Several residents who spoke to Rural Reporters News Network expressed disappointment over the prolonged neglect of the administrative headquarters.

“This building should be a symbol of leadership, but right now it looks abandoned,” a resident said. “We need the government to step in.”

Commissioner Norrig is appealing to the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and development partners to prioritize Chedepo district by renovating the administrative headquarters, supply of essential office furniture and equipment, providing a motorcycle for administrative mobility and assigning a stipendiary magistrate to restore judicial services.

However, local residents remain hopeful that the commissioner’s plea will attract national attention and lead to a comprehensive rehabilitation of the district’s governance facilities.

Chedepo is one of ten administrative districts in River Gee County, southeastern Liberia. Despite its significance, residents say it continues to face longstanding development challenges that demand urgent government intervention.