TAPPITA, Nimba County – Nimba County Superintendent Kou Meapeah Gono has announced that the county administration together with relevant authorities including the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) and other security agencies will begin profiling “Burkinabe” currently working on farms across Nimba County.
By D Franklin Doloquee
Superintendent Gono said the exercise will determine how many of these foreign workers are living and working in the county forests.
Reporters were told many of the workers come from neighboring areas and are brought into Nimba County after residents recruit them across the border in Ivory Coast to work primarily on cocoa farms.
According to the report, many of the foreign farm workers are in Kparblee Administrative District (District 6), while others are in the forests of Tappita and several towns and villages in Lower Nimba County.
It is not yet clear how many people are presently in those areas.
Superintendent Gono told reporters that the profiling will provide the county administration with an accurate record of the foreign workers and their locations.
She made the remarks during a tour of county projects in Tappita City, Lower Nimba County.
During the tour, Superintendent Gono pledged the county administration’s support for development projects across all 19 administrative districts.
Current county projects include the Presidential Palace in Tappita and a modern city hall with seating for nearly 400 people.
Superintendent Gono received a warm welcome from residents of Tappita and Lower Nimba, some of whom said they previously felt excluded from the county and national social development funding.
The delegation’s visit and ongoing projects, although not yet complete, have raised hopes among residents that their communities will benefit from county programs and corporate operations.
Several residents and local officials credited Superintendent Gono’s leadership for increased visibility and development since ArcelorMittal Liberia began operations in the county.
Lower Nimba District Commissioner Chris Menpoe Joe and Boe-Quilla District Commissioner Justine M. Wehyee praised Superintendent Gono, saying their districts are now feeling the impact of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s Social Development Funding.
FrontPage Africa reports that since ArcelorMittal Liberia began operations in 2006, Nimba, as the host County, has received US$1.5 million annually as Social Development Funding.
Bong County receives half a million, and Grand Bassa County receives US$1 million per year.
From 2006 to date, Nimba County has reportedly received about US$30 million, though critics say past administrations failed to show clear impacts.
Many Nimbaians, including farmers, marketers, motorcyclists, students, educators and lawmakers, have commended Superintendent Gono’s leadership and described her as a catalyst for development across the county.
Women’s groups told FrontPage Africa they are “so much happy” with her leadership.
At a groundbreaking ceremony for a modern magistrate court in Tappita, Superintendent Gono announced additional major projects to be undertaken under her administration across the county.
She reiterated her commitment to development in all 19 districts.
Liberia Chief Justice Yarmie Q. Gbeisay Sr. urged the county administration to support the judiciary’s infrastructure as well.
Chief Justice Gbeisay said that if the judiciary constructs a magistrate court, the county should consider allocating social development funds to build additional courts in other districts to improve access to justice.
He described the court as “the only place to seek justice.”
