Bong Receives 24 of 30 Promised Yellow Machines

Questions have emerged over the number of road construction machines delivered to Bong County under the Liberian Government’s nationwide Yellow Machines Project, after a fact-finding investigation by the Daily Observer established that only 24 of the 30 pieces of equipment announced by the government were deployed to the county’s two operational hubs.

The development has raised questions about the whereabouts of the remaining six pieces of equipment and whether the county received the full allocation announced during an official handover ceremony in Salala District.

The discrepancy comes as the government promotes the initiative as a major intervention to improve rural road connectivity and strengthen county-level infrastructure development.

During a handover ceremony at the Salala City Hall on Friday, October 30, 2026, Brownie J. Samukai, Executive Chairperson and National Coordinator of the Special Presidential Project Coordinating Committee (SPPCC), announced that 30 pieces of heavy-duty road construction equipment were being delivered to Bong County on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration.

However, following deployment exercises at the Salala and Wainsue operational hubs, the Daily Observer conducted a fact-finding exercise that established a different picture from the official announcement. During a visit to the Wainsue hub on Tuesday, November 3, the newspaper observed 12 pieces of equipment, comprising six actual earthmoving machines, four HOWO trucks, one fuel tanker and one water tanker.

A reliable source at the Salala hub separately informed the newspaper that another 12 pieces of equipment had been deployed there, bringing the total confirmed deployment to 24.

The findings have created a distinction between the 30 pieces of equipment officially announced as delivered to Bong County and the 24 reported to have reached its designated operational hubs. The difference has become particularly significant because the equipment is intended to address years of transportation difficulties affecting farming communities, commercial activities and access to essential public services across the county.

When contacted by the Daily Observer via Telephone, Bong County Administrative Officer Sam Elliot maintained that the county had received the full allocation. He said Superintendent Loileyah Hawa Norris signed for and took delivery of all 30 pieces of road construction equipment on behalf of the county administration.

Elliot, however, explained that some of the equipment, including the low-bed trailer and fuel tankers, were currently being used to assist in transporting and deploying equipment to other counties.

His explanation introduces an important question about the distinction between equipment formally received by the county administration and equipment physically available for road construction activities within Bong County.

While the county administration maintains that the full allocation was received, the newspaper’s findings indicate that not all 30 pieces were present at the two designated operational hubs during the fact-finding exercise. It remains unclear when the equipment temporarily assisting other counties will return and whether the county has an official schedule documenting their movements.

Meanwhile, Samukai declined to provide an official response when contacted through a Radio Gbarnga inquiry. He reportedly promised that the SPPCC Communications Department would provide an explanation.

At the time of the inquiry, no official clarification from the committee had been provided regarding the six-piece difference, the movement of equipment between counties or the timeline for making the full allocation available to Bong County.

At the handover ceremony, Samukai described the Yellow Machines Project as part of President Boakai’s commitment to addressing longstanding road infrastructure challenges, particularly in rural communities where poor road conditions continue to restrict access to markets, schools, health facilities and other essential services.

He stressed that the equipment belonged exclusively to the people of Bong County and should not be transferred or used for private, political or unrelated purposes.

“The machine belongs to Bong County, and not to anybody else,” Samukai said, urging residents and county officials to ensure proper management and maintenance.

He also announced an administrative and monitoring structure involving a county coordinator and two assistant coordinators responsible for two operational hubs: Hub One in Salala, Lower Bong and Hub Two in Wainsue, Upper Bong.

The proposed arrangement includes data collectors tasked with monitoring equipment movements, fuel consumption, maintenance requirements and operational activities. According to Samukai, a computer-based monitoring system would enable the national coordinating committee to track the location and activities of the machines.

He said the system was designed to prevent unauthorized movement, misuse and poor management while strengthening accountability.

However, the current discrepancy underscores the importance of making the equipment inventory, deployment records and movement reports accessible to the public. Without such information, residents may find it difficult to determine which equipment belongs to the county, where it is operating and when it will be available for local road rehabilitation.

County Superintendent, Loileyah Hawa Norris,cautioned residents against allowing political differences to undermine the project, emphasizing that improved roads would benefit citizens regardless of their political affiliations.

“This machine is not for Unity Party partisans,” she warned, arguing that the equipment should serve the entire population rather than a particular political party or interest group.

She also called on communities along rehabilitation routes to cooperate with equipment operators and avoid unnecessary actions that could delay construction activities.

Her appeal comes as expectations grow among rural residents who have long complained about deteriorating roads and the difficulties of transporting agricultural products during the rainy season.

Chairman of the Bong County Legislative Caucus, Senator Prince Kermue Moye, welcomed the equipment delivery, describing it as an important step toward addressing the county’s infrastructure challenges.

Other members of the legislative delegation, including Representatives Eugine J. M. Kollie, Moimah Briggs Mensah, Josiah Marvin Cole, Foday Fahnbulleh, Robert Flomo Womba and Prince Koinah, also commended the President for the initiative.

The lawmakers called for cooperation between county authorities, elected officials and residents to ensure that the machines are used for their intended purpose.

Some expressed optimism that their respective districts would benefit from the project, while emphasizing the importance of political cooperation in advancing county development.

For farmers and residents in remote communities, the significance of the Yellow Machines Project will ultimately be measured by the roads rehabilitated rather than the number of machines announced at official ceremonies.

Bong County depends heavily on agriculture and local trading, but poor road conditions frequently increase transportation costs, delay the movement of farm produce and make some communities difficult to reach, particularly during the rainy season.

Improved farm-to-market roads could strengthen agricultural trade, reduce transportation difficulties and improve access to schools, health facilities and commercial centres.

Nevertheless, the arrival of heavy-duty equipment does not automatically guarantee improved roads. The project’s effectiveness will depend on adequate fuel supplies, qualified operators, regular maintenance, transparent road selection and consistent public oversight.

The SPPCC has indicated that President Boakai is expected to officially launch the nationwide project on November 16, 2026, at 9:00 a.m., after which the equipment will be ready for deployment.

For Bong County, however, the immediate concern extends beyond the national launch: residents need clarification about the six pieces of equipment not confirmed at the two operational hubs.

The county administration says all 30 pieces were received, while the fact-finding exercise established that 24 were deployed to the designated hubs, with some equipment reportedly assisting other counties.

There is currently no evidence establishing that the missing six pieces have been stolen or permanently diverted. But the difference between the announced allocation and the confirmed deployment requires an official explanation, supported by a detailed inventory and equipment movement records.

As the government moves to implement its rural road development programme, transparency over public assets will be essential to maintaining public confidence.