Margibi County – Residents of Kakata City in Margibi County are raising concerns over the deteriorating condition of the Mandingo Quarter cemetery, which has become overrun with trees and forest growth, threatening both the space available for new burials and the dignity of their loved ones’ final resting place.
By Yaway Jaivey, [email protected]
The cemetery, established in the early 1960s, has seen little maintenance in recent years, leaving residents frustrated and disheartened as they approach the upcoming Decoration Day. The overgrowth has led to the cemetery being described as more of a forest than a burial ground.
Madam Wokie Sirleaf, a local businesswoman, voiced her displeasure during an interview with FrontPage Africa, calling the situation a “disrespectful” neglect of the site. “The cemetery, which has existed for over 70 years, is now engulfed in forest,” she said. “It is essential for the government to take action, as burial space is extremely limited and families are being forced to bury over existing graves.”
Madam Sirleaf also shared shocking details from a recent clean-up effort, where skeletal remains were discovered on the surface, indicating that graves were being dug over older burials.
She emphasized the need for the Kakata City Corporation to close the cemetery to new burials, except for those who have purchased specific plots.
“It’s disappointing to see our loved ones’ final resting place overrun with trees and human feces, and it is disrespectful when people defecate around the graves,” she added. She called for consistent maintenance of the cemetery to ensure families have a respectful and clean place to honor their deceased relatives.
Another resident, Dennis Smith, echoed similar concerns, urging the Kakata City Corporation to allocate funds for the cemetery’s upkeep year-round, rather than just during Decoration Day. “This place should be clean at all times,” he said, pointing out that the current dirty conditions prevent many families from visiting their relatives’ graves.
Justin Kuku, another local resident, expressed dismay over damage done to the cemetery, noting that some sections had been set on fire by unknown individuals, damaging headstones and marble tiles.
Rufus B. Rogers, the Superintendent of the Mandingo Quarter cemetery, responded to the complaints, attributing the cemetery’s deterioration to a lack of support from the Kakata City Corporation. “I feel embarrassed to see the cemetery taken over by trees and grass,” he admitted.
However, Rogers disputed claims that burial space was limited, stating that there are still “strategic spaces” available for new burials, though he was unable to provide clarity on the locations of these spaces when pressed by reporters.
