WANHASSAN, Lofa County – The Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Agriculture, has officially dedicated the newly reconstructed Fangoma Dam in Wanhassan Administrative District, Lofa County, signaling a major step toward restoring the county’s historic status as Liberia’s “food basket.”
By Augustus D.R. Bortue
The dedication ceremony, held on Saturday, June 14, brought together senior government officials, local stakeholders, and development partners in a unified call to revitalize Liberia’s agricultural sector.
Valued at US$650,000, the Fangoma Dam project was fully funded by the Government of Liberia and implemented by Chinese construction firm Liberia Qiang Shen Group. The project was completed in a record 70 days and will support more than 250 acres of lowland for year-round rice farming.
As part of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s “Liberians, Feed Yourselves” Agenda, the dam is designed to boost food production, reduce rice importation, and create job opportunities—particularly for youth and students during school breaks.
Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah, who led the dedication ceremony, emphasized the importance of the initiative and called on young people to embrace farming as a path to prosperity.
“The land is fertile, and agriculture is the best way to create wealth,” Minister Nuetah stated. “Let’s leave politics and focus on development.”
The modern dam, now equipped with an advanced irrigation system, is expected to significantly enhance rice cultivation and contribute to food security across the region.
Local residents welcomed the development with optimism. Community youth leader Momo Kamara described the project as a “lifeline” for livelihoods and youth empowerment.
“This is a good dream for Lofa. Let us protect it and use it wisely,” Kamara urged.
In addition to the dam dedication, Minister Nuetah also toured several project sites in Foya and surrounding areas, where he assessed a 2,000-hectare parcel of land designated for large-scale agricultural development.
With these efforts, the Boakai administration aims to restore Lofa County’s role as a leading food producer in Liberia and drive rural economic transformation through sustainable agriculture.
