ZOTA DISTRICT, BONG COUNTY – A significant community-led road construction initiative is bringing renewed hope and opportunity to residents of Kpaquellie Clan in Zota District. The new six-kilometer route, stretching from Laykai-Ta through Gomu to Malaneyah, is connecting previously isolated villages to essential services such as markets, schools, and health clinics—areas that have long been difficult to reach.
This fully community-driven project is being championed by Quanuquanei Alfred Karmue, Executive Director of the Panta Pride Foundation, in partnership with Dr. Emmanuel King Urey Yarkpawolo, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency, and local engineer Philip McGill Flomo, who is overseeing fieldwork and survey operations.
“This road from Laykai-Ta to Malanenyah covers six kilometers,” Engineer Flomo shared during a site assessment. “We’ve just finalized the survey, and from what I’ve witnessed, this road was desperately needed. For years, residents maintained it with their bare hands. Until now, not a single machine had been used—but today, through God’s grace, that has changed.”
First Time Heavy Machinery Has Reached These Communities
The arrival of earth-moving equipment has astonished many villagers. For elders in Laykai-Ta, Nyesue, and Gomu, the machines represent a breakthrough in local development.
“In the past, we dug and cleared roads with nothing but our hands,” one elder said. “It was especially hard during the rainy season. But now, we’ll be able to move around more easily.”
The machinery was provided by the Panta Pride Foundation, while Dr. Yarkpawolo supplied fuel to keep operations running. Local residents are contributing voluntary labor, driven by a collective spirit of service.
“No one is paying us a dime,” said Engineer Flomo. “We’re doing this out of pure love for our people. It’s not politics—it’s patriotism.”
Construction is advancing rapidly and is expected to be completed within 10 days, weather permitting.
A Route to Relief and Economic Opportunity
The road cuts through fertile agricultural lands in Gomu, Kilega, Kpaquellie Clan, and nearby communities extending toward the Guinean border. These areas are known for producing plantains, cassava, peppers, and pineapples. But due to poor roads, farmers have long struggled to get their goods to market.
“Buyers couldn’t reach us,” said Moses B.K. Kollie, a farmer from Laykai-Ta. “We had to carry produce on our heads or even roll it down hills to get it to town. Now, we expect better prices and easier access to buyers.”
Women Farmers Celebrate Long-Awaited Change
Women, who bear the brunt of transporting produce, are particularly relieved. Korto Yarkpawolo, a farmer from Gomu, called the road “a true blessing.”
“We women suffered the most, carrying cassava and peppers to distant markets,” she explained. “What Quanuquanei and Dr. Yarkpawolo have done is something we never thought possible. They brought us a road, and we’re grateful.”
Ongoing Commitment to Rural Development
This initiative is part of a larger, sustained effort by the Panta Pride Foundation and Dr. Yarkpawolo to support rural communities in Bong County. Over the years, they have worked with local citizens to rehabilitate and build several farm-to-market roads in both Zota and Panta Districts, improving access for dozens of villages.
In addition, Dr. Yarkpawolo previously constructed a school in Gomu to help children access education more easily.
“Our children used to walk long distances just to attend school,” one resident recalled. “Now, they have a school right in the community—thanks to him. He didn’t wait for the government. He acted.”
Calls for Continued Support from Government and Partners
Local leaders hope the road will attract further investment and assistance from government agencies and development partners.
“We need seeds, tools, transport, and better market access,” said elder Moses Kollie. “This road is just the beginning. With help from the Ministry of Agriculture and others, we can increase production and improve learning for our children.”
A Model of Unity and Local Empowerment
This road project represents more than just infrastructure—it stands as a symbol of unity, grassroots leadership, and self-reliance. It demonstrates how communities, when mobilized around a shared goal, can bring transformative change.
As Engineer Flomo put it, “Liberia is not just for those born in cities. It belongs to all of us. Government, NGOs, and everyday citizens—we must all join hands. If the weather stays on our side, we’ll finish the six kilometers soon. And once it’s done, this road will breathe life into every village it reaches.”
