Published: October 24, 2024
LOFA COUNTY — Barkedu Town, located in Quardu Bondi District, Lofa County, is facing serious challenges due to the overflow of the Lofa River, particularly during the rainy season. According to Town Chief Musa Sesay, the river’s rising waters have disrupted the lives of farmers, marketers, and students, who struggle to carry on their daily activities when the river overflows.
Chief Sesay explained that the absence of a bridge over the Lofa River has left the town and surrounding villages vulnerable. “Sometimes, when it rains heavily for two or three days, the river floods the town. Our food, peanuts, and even the students from nearby towns who attend school here are all affected,” he said.
Barkedu, almost surrounded by the river, relies heavily on canoes and a ferry for transportation to farms and neighboring towns. However, the situation has worsened as the town’s ferry is now damaged, leaving residents without a reliable means of crossing the river.
“We need help urgently. This year, our farms were ruined, and our pregnant women and students are suffering. The canoe and ferry we relied on are no longer usable. We are appealing for assistance, at least for a new ferry,” Chief Sesay pleaded.
The town, which hosts a junior high school and a government clinic serving over ten surrounding towns, is now calling on sons and daughters of Lofa County to intervene and address the recurring challenges caused by the river. Without immediate action, farm produce will continue to spoil, students will struggle to access education, and pregnant women will face serious difficulties in obtaining healthcare.
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