By Ernest Kpehe Moibah
Gbah Jarkeh Township, Bomi County-Residents of Gbah Jarkeh town in Bomi County want the government through the Ministry of Public Works to pay for their properties that will be demolished ahead of the construction of the Western Region Road Corridor Project.
“We want the Government of Liberia and the company to compensate us and give us small time”, that was collective plea from residents of Gbah Jarkeh Township when the spoke to Rural Reporters News Network.
The outcry follows the official groundbreaking ceremony of the 255-kilometers road project over the weekend by the Liberian and Sierra Leonean governments. While many acknowledge the project as a critical step toward development, affected communities say the pace and process of implementation have left them distressed and uncertain about their future.
Speaking to the media, several residents; particularly those whose properties have already been marked, xpressed deep frustration over what they described as a hasty and inconsiderate demolition timeline. According to them, surveyors marked their homes and structures barely a week ago and instructed them to relocate within one month.
“We are not against development,” one resident said. “But the way this is happening is too fast. We have families, businesses, and nowhere to go.”
Residents also raised concerns about the absence of any clear compensation or resettlement plan. Many say they have received no information regarding payment for their properties or assistance to relocate, despite the imminent threat of displacement.
“This is not just about buildings,” another affected resident added. “This is about our lives. We need time and support to move.”
Community members described the situation as both troubling and worrisome, urging the government and project authorities to reconsider their approach. They are calling for a structured compensation framework and an extension of the relocation deadline to ease the burden on affected families.
Despite their grievances, the residents expressed support for the road project, noting its potential to boost economic activity and improve connectivity in the region. They, however, cautioned against what they termed a “forced urgency” that could leave communities vulnerable.
Gbah Jarkeh’s residents say development should not come at the cost of displacement without dignity.
“We support the road,” a community elder said. “But we are asking the government to do the right thing—compensate us and give us time.”
