By: Ben T.C. Brooks| River Gee County Correspondent
River Gee County – May 14, 2025 – Latest report from River Gee County says the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has identified the identities of illicit miners in that part of the country.
According to report, the illegal miners were identified by the EPA as Ghanaians aided by Liberian. Their operations in the affected areas had prompted serious environmental and regulatory concerns, prompting the visitation of delegation from the EPA. The visit was part of the ongoing tour of the sector agency and environmental regulator.
During the visit, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarpawolo said the ongoing nationwide initiative was meant to enforce environmental regulations and protect Liberia’s natural resources.
In River Gee, Dr. Yarpawolo held discussions with various stakeholders, including superintendent, officials from the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the Forestry Development Authority (FDA), the Liberia Land Authority (LLA), and community leaders.
Following the discussions, the agency conducted surprise inspections at several mining sites in response to reports of unauthorized mining that is severely damaging the environment in the county.
The inspections revealed numerous mining sites in the Tienpo Statutory District of River Gee County, including Dartuken, Kaytuken, Nanee Town and Namee Creek, where both Ghanaian and Liberian miners are using dredges and excavators to mine gold. According to the EPA boss, many of the miners are mining without the required licenses in violation of environmental and mining regulations.
The unregulated mining activities have resulted in significant deforestation and soil erosion as miners have cleared extensive forest areas to access mineral deposits.
In addition, the EPA has reported that these illegal operations have contaminated local water sources, creating shortage of safe drinking water there.
The use of mercury and other hazardous chemicals during the extraction process pose substantial health risks to both the environment and nearby communities.
“We are deeply concerned about the impact of these illegal mining activities on our environment and the health of our citizens,” said Urey Yarpawolo.
“Our duty is to protect our natural resources while fostering sustainable development. Thus, we cannot tolerate any form of illegal activities.”
In light of recent findings, EPA has revealed plans to collaborate with local communities and stakeholders to address the challenge of illegal mining.
The agency aims to inform residents about the dangers associated with unlawful mining activities and the importance of following environmental regulations.
Furthermore, the EPA intends to promote the formation of legal mining cooperatives that enable local miners to work within established and sustainable guidelines.
The EPA boss highlighted the importance of collaborating with local communities, stressing the need to educate them about their rights and the importance of adhering to environmental laws. He noted that educational initiatives are vital, and plans are underway to develop community programs that will empower local citizens to report illegal mining activities.
The Liberian government has stressed a strong commitment to fighting illegal mining, promising to enhance monitoring and enforcement strategies to discourage such practices.
The current monitoring efforts by the EPA emphasize the urgent need for stricter regulations and active community involvement to protect Liberia’s diverse ecosystems and natural resources for future generations.
As the situation progresses, both the EPA and local authorities in the county continue to encourage the public to help monitor environmental violations and report any illegal mining activities.
However, the EPA says community participation is crucial for achieving a sustainable balance between resource extraction and environmental conservation.
Meanwhile, the illicit miners are reportedly fleeing the identified mining sites to unknown locations.
Edited: Esau J. Farr| Sub-Editor
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