By: Emmanuel Koffa| Grand Kru County Correspondent
Barclayville, Grand Kru County-Sunday, August 17, 2025 – Heavy duty trucks are said to be plying major laterite roads across the despite government’s restrictions.
Reports have from Maryland and Grand Kru Counties indicate significant failures by the Liberia National Police (LNP) and other law enforcement officers to implement the recently imposed moratorium on heavy duty vehicles along the unpaved primary and secondary road corridors during the rainy seasons.
This failure has raised serious concerns about the integrity of road infrastructure and safety standards amongst residents of Barclayville and elsewhere in southeastern Liberia.
The moratorium, issued by the Ministry of Public Works, officially took effect on July 31, 2025, and it is set to last until October 15, 2025, in an effort to protect vulnerable roadways from excessive wear and tear that occurs during heavy rainfall.
Specifically, the moratorium prohibits the movement of heavy-loaded vehicles along several key routes, including the 75-kilometer Pleebo to Barclayville corridor.
Despite this, on Thursday August 14, three heavily loaded trucks were reported to have traveled unimpeded through the Pleebo to Barclayville route, with the movement raising eyebrows and alarm among local citizens who had expected the security forces to enforce the government mandate.
The trucks, identified by their license plate numbers — HO4665, belonging to a driver known only as Sheriff, and H05392 — were observed entering Barclayville; highlighting a breakdown in the enforcement of restrictions designed to protect the integrity of critical road infrastructures.
The moratorium encompasses several primary and secondary road corridors in Liberia, including: Ganta to Zwedru (Nimba and Grand Gedeh Counties), Zwedru to Kanweaken (Grand Gedeh and River Gee Counties), Buchanan to Greenville (Grand Bassa, River Cess, and Sinoe Counties), Pleebo to Barclayville (Maryland and Grand Kru Counties), Salayea to Mendikorma (Lofa County), and Brewerville to Bopolu (Montserrado, Bomi, and Gbarpolu Counties).
Local authorities and residents have expressed their frustration over the situation, raising questions about why security personnel failed to take action against the trucks, which could exacerbate the worsening of the already compromised road infrastructure during the ongoing rainy season.
The inaction not only puts the roads at risk but could also endanger travel safety for other vehicles and residents who rely on these corridor routes for their daily needs.
Community leaders have called for increased oversight and accountability from security forces and government officials to ensure that vital road infrastructures are fully protected and that the moratorium already in place is enforced to the letter as mandated by the Ministry of Public Works.
They argue that the enforcement of such regulations is not only critical for maintaining roads but also for ensuring the safety of those who use them.
However, as the rainy season continues, the necessity for effective enforcement remains pressing, with hopes that government entities and security forces concerned, will act swiftly to uphold the moratorium and protect key transportation routes throughout the country; especially in the southeast including Maryland and Grand Kru Counties.
Meanwhile, this call for action reflects a broader demand for responsible governance and infrastructure management in Liberia.
