By: Ernest Kpehe Moibah Jr. | Bomi Correspondent
Grand Cape Mount County, Kongba District |April 5, 2026|The road to Gola National Park is in a deplorable condition, making effective monitoring difficult and raising serious concerns about conservation efforts in one of Liberia’s most important protected areas.
But beyond conservation, the deteriorating road network is fueling a wider crisis across Kongba District, where residents say years of neglect have left communities stranded and struggling.
At the center of the growing outcry is prominent citizen Jallah Samma, who is sounding the alarm over what he describes as worsening infrastructure conditions affecting everyday life.
In an interview with Rural Reporters News Network, Samma detailed the harsh reality of roads across the district, particularly the stretch connecting communities to Lofa Bridge and nearby towns. He described the roads as nearly impassable; turning what should be routine travel into a daily ordeal.
“These roads are not just bad—they are crippling our livelihoods,” he stressed.
The poor road conditions, he explained, are not only hindering access to the Gola National Park for monitoring and protection but are also choking local economic activities. Traders especially women face enormous challenges transporting goods, while access to healthcare, markets, and other essential services continues to decline.
Residents say transportation costs have skyrocketed, mobility is severely restricted, and entire communities are becoming increasingly isolated.
However, the crisis does not end with roads. Samma revealed that the situation in the education sector is equally alarming. In several public schools across the district, children are forced to sit on bare floors due to a lack of desks and chairs. In some cases, students reportedly borrow seats from nearby homes just to attend classes.
“This is not the kind of environment our children deserve,” he lamented, warning that such conditions are undermining learning and discouraging school attendance.
He blamed the situation on what he termed a lack of political will by lawmakers of Gbarpolu County, accusing them of failing to address the basic needs of their constituents.
“Our leaders must do more. The people are suffering, and the silence is becoming too loud,” Samma added.
With the road to Gola National Park deteriorating and essential services collapsing, he is now calling on the national government and county lawmakers to urgently intervene, describing the situation as a development and environmental emergency.
As of now, there has been no official response from authorities, leaving residents watching closely and hoping that their cries for help will finally be answered.
For many in Kongba District, the message is unmistakable: the road to development is broken – and it must be fixed now.
