By Henry B. Gboluma, Jr.
In Western Liberia, a small town, Godoma, sits on a rich iron ore deposit and timbers. Covered by dense forests, the town of Godoma is also rich in gold and other valuable resources. Despite these valuable natural resources, residents of the town are still fetching water from a nearby creek for domestic use such a drinking.
Evern more interesting is the community has an Iron Ore mining Company, BAO CHICO in the area-depicting the unjust distribution of country’s wealth.
In section 8 of BAO CHICO’s Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), the company is tasked to provide access to safe drinking water and construct, operate, and maintain health facilities to ensure 24-hour medical care.
Since BAO CHICO began operations in 2022, Godoma Town has seen little more than a recently completed road rehabilitation project as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, with no visible signs of access to safe drinking water or health facilities
Recent visit to the community found that over 100 residents of Godoma town, Gungbaya Chief, Gbarpolu County do not have access to safe drinking, a situation human rights campaigners described as insensitive.
Residents interviewed said they rely on the Godo Creek for all their needs, a situation they claim their endangers health and daily life.
“We can drink from this creek, but this water is not good”, Musu Brawn said, “We drink and hope for better, depending on God because we need safe water.” Another resident, Famata Burphy, said that since she settled in the town, there has not been a safe drinking water for residents, with community members relying on creek water for all their domestic use.
“No safe Drinking Water for us in this town,” Famata said. “We have asked plenty of our big big people to help us, but no good response. They can only promise us and go during election time.”
Mamai Dukuly, Chairlady of Godoma Town, describes a long-standing dependency on Godo Creek. “I was not here when the town was established. In fact, since I came here in this Godoma Town in 1991, this is the water I met,” she said, “Godo Creek is our savior because we do not have a hand pump here.”
What is saddened about the water crisis is that during the dry season, the Godo Creek dries up, making situation difficult for the people. Chairlady Dukuly recounted how some residents, mainly women and children get get sick, or experience stomach problems and other waterborne diseases.
Compounding the situation is the open defecation around the creek, which Chairlady Dukuly says authorities have warned against, but still continues to happen. “We have talked with many people, but we are tired, she lamented.
Expert says safe drinking water is not a luxury, it is a necessity. For Godoma Town and other rural communities in Liberia, it’s a matter of life and death. As Mamai Dukuly put it, “No money can remain in our hands, every small money we get, we can spend it on medicine.”
Dukuly is appealing for help to construct handpump. “We need a hand pump and safe water now.”
Community members and the chiefdom’s leadership are appealing to BAO CHICO, the county administration, and the Gbarpolu County Legislative Caucus to intervene in the water crisis by providing lasting solution.
The lack of safe drinking water in rural communities like Godoma Town is a ticking time bomb. According to reports, over 60% of Liberians lack access to safe drinking water, and water-borne diseases claim thousands of lives annually. In rural areas, the situation is even more dire, with many communities forced to rely on contaminated water sources.
For Paramount Chief, Johnson Dannah, water is life and, hence “It is time for change, not just promises.” The Paramount Chief of Gungbaya Chiefdom is therefore calling on BAO CHICO Company and the county administration to intervene.
