GANTA – Contrary to media reports, The Liberian Investigator has gathered that the Liberia-Guinea border remains open to the public, but caution is being urged for commuters, especially cross-border traders and others traveling along the border due to flooding on the Guinean side.
Our correspondent, who visited the border on September 12, noted that while the Liberian side remains open and the water levels have reduced somewhat due to hours of sunshine, the Guinean side faces more severe challenges. Movements are restricted because of heavy rainfall that has left significant water deposits at the border.
On the Liberian side, security personnel were stationed at their usual posts, unlike their Guinean counterparts, who were forced to move slightly inward as water surrounded their offices and usual duty posts.
According to our correspondent, the flooding has affected Guinea more significantly than Liberia, particularly in the areas near the border. Residents of several Guinean towns and villages near the border have been displaced due to the continuous heavy rainfall in recent days. While citizens and commuters from both countries are not officially prevented from crossing the border, movements have decreased considerably due to the fear of drowning or losing their belongings in the floodwaters.
Our correspondent noted that September 12 marked the third day since the St. John River, which links the two countries, overflowed its banks.
The steel bridge built over the river was partially submerged during the first and second days of the flooding, but the situation has slightly improved.
Mohammed Keita, a resident of Ganta, went to the border to meet a friend who was supposed to deliver an item from Guinea. However, the flooding may prevent his friend from crossing the border. “The situation is worrisome,” Keita said, “as movements from one side of the border to the other have become impossible due to the high water levels.” Although there has been no official pronouncement of a border closure, the flooding is significantly hindering the movement of both Liberians and Guineans who rely on the route.
An official from the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), who spoke to The Liberian Investigator on condition of anonymity, explained: “The situation is natural. We did not close our border. The slight restriction is only due to the water situation. We are here to protect lives and property. Because of this, we’ve advised people not to cross the border, as the water levels are dangerously high. But we did not close the border; we are just trying to restrict movements for the safety of our people.”
The official further explained that the citizens themselves are hesitant to cross the border as they usually would, due to fear of the flooding.
“Our side [of the border] is not closed, but on the Guinean side, the water has forced their officials to move further inland. Even people traveling from Liberia to Guinea are afraid to cross because the water is right before the Guinean gate,” the official added.
Built in the 1960s, the bridge that connects Liberia and Guinea over the St. John River has long served as a major route for Liberians and Guineans commuting between the two countries. It is also an important economic corridor for citizens of both nations and nearby areas.
Nearly every year, the St. John River overflows, causing delays in the movement of people and goods along the route. However, residents say that this year’s flooding surpasses previous years in severity.
Some residents have expressed concerns that the bridge does not meet modern needs, particularly with climate change causing water bodies to overflow more frequently. They are calling on the government to consider demolishing the current bridge and constructing a more modern one that accounts for these climatic conditions, including increased height to prevent future flooding.
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