Published: October 17, 2025
Gbarnga, Bong County – A government order stopping the Citizens Movement for Change’s (CMC) proposed $500,000 bridge project over the Jor River has sparked intense public debate, dividing residents and revealing deep political divisions in Bong County.
The Ministry of Public Works, in a letter dated October 6, 2025, instructed CMC’s National Vice Chairman for Operations, Rep. Josiah Marvin Cole, to halt all ongoing work on the bridge project, citing “unauthorized construction” and “non-compliance with national engineering standards.”
The project, led by opposition leader and Nimba County District #7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility, aimed to connect Civil Compound Community with Jorkpanmue and nearby towns, which have long struggled with access, especially during the rainy season.
But what was initially praised as a lifesaving program has now become a lightning rod for controversy.
Residents Split Over Motives
When The Liberian Investigator visited the community Wednesday, residents voiced mixed reactions to the government’s decision.
Some locals welcomed the suspension, arguing that although the bridge is needed, it must comply with national safety and engineering standards.
“We know the bridge is good, but the CMC must follow the proper channel for the greater good of the community,” said Henry Kesselee, a Civil compound resident.
Others criticized Bility for his recent verbal attack on Bong County Senator Prince Moye, describing him as a “divisive figure” whose political motives may have complicated what should be a community project.
However, several residents condemned the government’s move, calling it a “politically driven obstruction” aimed at undermining Bility’s growing influence in Bong County.
“Since we’ve been here needing a bridge, the government never helped us. They must not stop Musa Bility. This is a political strategy to block the project, and it will lead to more deaths,” fumed Sarah Klemin, another resident.
Locals lamented that the Jor River has claimed multiple lives over the years as residents attempt to cross by canoe or improvised planks to reach markets and schools. They insist the bridge’s completion would boost trade, ease transport, and spark development across the region.
Government Defends Its Decision
Officials at the Ministry of Public Works claim that the project was paused solely due to procedural issues, not political reasons. The ministry emphasizes that all infrastructure projects, no matter who sponsors them, must go through proper technical review, environmental assessment, and coordination with local authorities.
Bong County Superintendent Hawa Loleyah Norris echoed those concerns, revealing that her office was never consulted before the groundbreaking to begin the construction of the bridge.
“It’s not proper that my office wasn’t contacted to review the bridge’s blueprint or supervise the process,” Norris said. “While we appreciate development efforts, every project must follow due process.”
Yet, critics have pointed out a potential double standard: earlier this year, Bility successfully built a bridge connecting Bong and Nimba Counties named in honor of human rights lawyer Tiawon Saye Gongloe without any reported intervention from the Public Works Ministry.
CMC Pledges Cooperation
In a press release issued October 14, the Citizens Movement for Change confirmed receipt of the government’s communication and pledged full compliance with all national regulations.
The CMC reaffirms its respect for Liberia’s laws and remains dedicated to working with the Ministry of Public Works to address all technical issues and finish the bridge project,” the statement read.
Bility, meanwhile, maintains that the initiative was born out of a request from Rep. Josiah Marvin Cole, whom he praised for prioritizing the needs of his constituents. He described the Jor River bridge as “the first of several infrastructure projects” his party intends to deliver across Bong County.
A Clash of Development and Politics
As the standoff intensifies, the controversy over the halted bridge highlights a larger tension between citizen-led development and government oversight in Liberia’s post-war democracy.
For now, residents of Civil Compound remain caught between bureaucracy and politics, and still without the bridge that could one day connect them to a safer, more prosperous future.
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