By Nukanah Kollie, contributing writer
PANTA DISTRICT, BONG COUNTY – Petty traders, comprising mainly of women and transitional farmers in Jorwah town and its environs in Panta and District near the Guinea border, have raised serious concerns over the deplorable conditions of the Belefanai-Jorwah-Guinea road, which connects dozens of farms to markets in the area.
Patience Wamah, one of their colleagues, launched an SOS call to the Ministry of Public Works and the local leadership of Bong County for the rehabilitation of the damaged road. She disclosed that “The severely damaged road,” Patience Wamah stated, “is a major obstacle for us in transporting our locally produced goods to nearby markets. This not only affects our income but also our ability to support our families.”
According to the market women and farmers, the road linking Liberia and the Republic of Guinea has become a death trap for motorists and passengers traveling along that route. Addressing the Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network recently in Jorwah, a stone’s throw from Guinea, Patience Wamah called on the government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Public Works, as well as goodwill individuals, to help recondition the deplorable road in Panta and Zota Districts. “We are appealing to the government and goodwill individuals,” Patience Wamah pleaded, “to help recondition the deplorable road in Panta and Zota Districts. The economic hardship we face due to this bad road is unbearable, and it is high time something is done to remedy the situation.”
Madam Wamah narrated that the majority of the women, many of whom are single, find it extremely difficult to get their produce to the markets, resulting in significant economic losses. The bad road is imposing a serious burden on women engaged in farming and marketing for a living.
She recounted that “The current state of the route is blocking the free movement of goods and services between Liberia and Guinea,” Patience Wamah explained, “and preventing pregnant women from accessing ambulances when they are in critical labor. This is a matter of life and death.” This has resulted in delays in transferring them to Phebe Hospital in Suakoko and C.B. Dunbar Hospital in Gbarnga for safe delivery.
The concerned individuals also expressed that the bad road is causing severe economic hardship for locals. The situation has drastically increased transportation fares and is hindering the smooth transfer of pregnant women to Gbarnga for advanced delivery. Meanwhile, the women, who are often the sole breadwinners for their children, highlighted that the damaged road is causing them significant suffering and imposing frequent medical treatment after traveling on it.
Passengers traveling to Gbarnga are now paying 2,500 Liberian Dollars instead of the previous 1,000. Our reporter who visited the area observed that the region, located between Nimba, Lofa, and the Republic of Guinea with numerous towns and villages nearby, might be cut off completely during the rainy season if action is not taken by the government of Liberia and the local county authority in Bong to remedy the situation. Accidents are reported to be occurring daily, with market women going to the Naamah local market sustaining injuries.
Moreover, Wamah also appealed to the female superintendent of Bong County, Loleyah Hawa Norris, to channel their appeal to the government of Liberia’s President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to consider fixing their damaged farms-to-market road. According to reports, the region behind the camp Naamah Military barracks, women there survive on farming and petty trading in order to send their kids to school in Gbarnga. Reports say some of the women have over the years been abandoned and left alone with their kids, and some lost their husbands to the 14 years of civil war in that locality.
In Liberia, women play a crucial role in agriculture and small community marketing. They constitute a significant portion of the farming workforce and are often responsible for the cultivation, harvesting, and sale of produce. Women account for approximately 80% of the agricultural labor force and are responsible for 93% of food crop production. Despite their meaningful contributions, women face numerous challenges, including limited access to land, credit, and resources.
The poor infrastructure, such as the damaged Belefanai-Jorwah-Guinea road, further exacerbates these challenges, hindering their ability to transport goods to markets and secure economic opportunities. Efforts to improve road conditions and support women farmers are essential for enhancing their livelihoods and promoting economic growth in rural communities. Addressing these infrastructural issues can significantly impact the well-being and economic stability of women and their families in Liberia.
