GEDETARBO, Maryland County — Residents of Gedetarbo Clan in District 2, Maryland County are now a step closer to receiving electricity after Senator James P. Biney broke ground for an electrification project expected to be completed within three months.
By Peter P. Toe, Jr., [email protected]
The initiative forms part of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s rural electricity expansion efforts and follows months of advocacy by Senator Biney, including an April assessment by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC).
The groundbreaking, held on Thursday, September 3, brought together Commissioners, members of the Council of Chiefs, Chiefs and Elders of Gedetarbo Clan, the Mayor of Pleebo City, women, youth, LIBENERGY staff and other stakeholders, assembled at the Gedetarbo Town Hall.
For Gedetarbo, the project carries particular historical significance.
Biney recalled that in 1926, residents of the area gave their land to the government, which subsequently made it available to Firestone for rubber operations.
Nearly a century later, he noted, the community remains without conventional electricity.
“From that time, to this time, the people of Gedetarbo have never seen electricity,” Biney told the gathering.
He credited President Boakai for responding to concerns raised by Gedetarbo chiefs and youths, who had approached him after previous efforts to secure electricity failed.
According to the senator, he subsequently took the matter to President Boakai, who agreed to support the initiative and directed LEC to work with him toward electrifying the community.
Biney also disclosed that he independently requested an assessment by LIBENERGY before approaching the President to determine what would be required to bring electricity to Gedetarbo.
The current development follows an LEC technical assessment conducted in April covering Gedetarbo and surrounding communities.
LEC Rural Electrification Manager Murphy M. Gibson explained during the assessment that the exercise was carried out at the directive of President Boakai following communication from Senator Biney.
“We are here based on a directive from the President, following communication from Senator Biney, to assess and ensure the completion of electrification in Gedetarbo,” Gibson stated.
The assessment covered several communities, including Yelakaken, Hlodieken, Saywonken, Tobga Town and Rubber Bed. LEC previously indicated that the electrification work was expected to take three months, subject to the technical assessment.
The development came after Biney led local leaders from Gedetarbo and Barrobo to meet President Boakai, where electricity and other development concerns were raised.
Speaking to journalists after the groundbreaking, Biney maintained that the project will run for three months.
However, the senator did not disclose the total cost when asked by a FrontPage Africa reporter, instead referring the matter to LEC.
“I will leave that with LEC. They will do that budget,” he responded.
LEC representatives were not present at the groundbreaking. Biney explained that the corporation’s team was still en route from Monrovia.
While welcoming the project, residents said they would continue monitoring its implementation until electricity is actually delivered.
Satiah Cullin, a youth representative of Gedetarbo, emphasized that the community’s attention is now on completion.
“Until the project is implemented and commissioned, we will be on the back of whosoever responsible to give us light,” Cullin stated.
For the Gedetarbo Women, electricity is also an economic issue.
Oretha Kyne, Co-Chair of the group, recalled that Biney previously brought solar panels to the community but noted that the lack of reliable electricity continues to affect local businesses, particularly fish sellers whose products often spoil.
“When this current business come to an end well, we will dance that whole week,” Kyne said.
Clan Chief Alexander Williams also welcomed the development, recalling an earlier unsuccessful attempt to secure electricity for the community during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
He thanked President Boakai, Senator Biney and local authorities, particularly for facilitating a meeting between Gedetarbo leaders and the President in Monrovia.
For residents, however, the groundbreaking is only the beginning. Their expectation is that the three-month implementation period will culminate in the actual commissioning of electricity in a community that has waited generations for access to power.
If completed as planned, the project could improve commerce, education, communication and other economic and social activities in Gedetarbo.
Support Independent Journalism
Your support helps FrontPage Africa continue delivering independent, credible, and impactful journalism. Every contribution strengthens our ability to investigate, inform, and hold power accountable while keeping quality journalism accessible to our readers.
Support our journalism or subscribe to receive the latest FrontPage Africa stories and updates.
