By Henry B. Gboluma, Jr.
Bopolu City-Sport authorities of Gbarpolu County, on October 21, 2025 officially commenced construction of the first-ever sports stadium in Bopolu City. The $279,768 project will enable the county to host National County Sports Meet and other social events.
The County Council has already approved $150,000, with the balance to be approved in the 2026 county development budget, sources from the County and Social Development Fund have hinted.
Based on the arrangement, the contractor, Global Group of Companies, will pre-finance in addition to using the available money to meet the deadline, according to the County Development Officer Olu Onangbah Normanlee.
Olu Onangbah Normanlee said the County is committed to working with the company to deliver quality work in order to meet the project deadline. “The contractor has promised us that they will work day and night to ensure the stadium is completed on time and be usable for December County Meet”, Olu disclosed.
In 2004, Gbarpolu County won her first county meet trophy, The county lost the final to Nimba County in 2021.
The County Superintendent, Sam K. Zinnah says the construction of the sports stadium is a testament to the county’s commitment to promoting sports development and community engagement. “We are excited to see the impact this stadium will have on our youth and the community,” he said. This stadium will be a game-changer for our county.
He reaffirmed the local government support to the project and look forward to seeing the positive impact it will have on the county and region.
The project has received support from various county officials, including the County Council Chairperson, Lucia Massaquoi.
Lucia Massaquoi, in her remarks said that the stadium will provide a platform for the young athletes to showcase their talents and will promote community engagement.
For her part, the Lord Mayor of Bopolu City, Madam Siah Kieh-Victor, also expressed her support for the project. ”This stadium will be a place for sports, business people, and community events in our city,” she said. “We are happy to have this football stadium in Bopolu City during our time as Mayor.
District #1 Representative Zinnah Norman promised to provide 100 bags of cement as additional support. “As a representative of the people, I am committed to supporting this Stadium that benefits my district and county,” Representative Norman said, “I will contribute 100 bags of cement to this project.”
Contractor’s Commitment
The Global Group of Companies’ Engineer Omaska A. Jallah assured the County that his team will work day and night to complete the project within the specified timeframe and in accordance with the contract.
A Brief History of Gbarpolu
Gbarpolu County is one of Liberia’s 15 counties, located in the western part of the country. It borders Lofa, Bong, Bomi, and Grand Cape Mount counties, as well as Sierra Leone. The county has 3 electoral districts and 6 administrative districts.
Created in 2001 out of Lofa County, as of the 2022 census, Gbarpolu County has a population of 95,995 people, with 51,121 males and 44,874 females. The main ethnic groups in Gbarpolu are the Kpelle, Belle, and Gola.
The county flag features a gold background with a diamond shape in the center, flanked by a tree, symbolizing the county’s rich resources.
Gbarpolu County has a lot of potential to recover and grow after the country’s long crisis, with a rich cultural heritage and a strong passion for sports.
