ZWEDRU, Grand Gedeh County – The Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo, has held high-level meetings with county and regional authorities in Grand Gedeh as part of a nationwide environmental compliance and enforcement mission.
Dr. Yarkpawolo met with the Grand Gedeh County Superintendent, officials from the Ministry of Agriculture, Public Works, the Liberia Land Authority, and staff of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) and EPA’s regional office in Zwedru to discuss environmental and social issues confronting the region. The engagements are part of a broader EPA effort to decentralize its operations and ensure that environmental protection efforts are robust across all regions of the country—not just in Monrovia and Montserrado.
“This trip gives me a broader perspective as we aim to expand the EPA’s work nationwide,” Dr. Yarkpawolo said. “We’re here to understand the local realities, assess challenges, and forge collaboration with authorities and communities alike.”
The mission, which spans several counties in southeastern Liberia, includes field inspections of licensed and unlicensed businesses, testing of water sources for contamination, and geo-mapping of operational sites using GPS technology. The EPA team is issuing halt orders to operators found violating permit conditions or working without EPA approval.
“This is not just monitoring—it’s enforcement,” the EPA Executive Director explained. “We’re holding companies accountable, making sure they operate within legal environmental limits. If they don’t comply, we shut them down until they do.”
In addition to regulatory checks, the EPA is investigating growing reports of Burkinabé nationals settling in forest areas to engage in cocoa farming. In the community of Swaken, Dr. Yarkpawolo interviewed residents who confirmed such activities, citing informal land agreements between Burkinabé settlers and local landowners.
“We’re hearing concerns about forest encroachment,” he noted. “Locals say these settlers are helping boost economic activity, but we need to verify their legal status and environmental impact. We’re triangulating this with data from other stakeholders, including the superintendent’s office.”
The tour, which began in Grand Gedeh, will continue through River Gee, Maryland, Grand Kru, and conclude in Sinoe County, where Dr. Yarkpawolo is expected to launch the Sinoe Coastal Defense Project on May 13. The project seeks to curb aggressive shoreline erosion in Greenville, particularly along Mississippi Street.
The Executive Director called on citizens to play a more active role in environmental protection by reporting harmful activities. “Environmental protection is everyone’s responsibility,” he emphasized. “If you see something, say something. Send us a message through our Facebook page or other platforms. Community reporting is helping us a great deal.”
The EPA also confirmed that illegal mining operations are a key focus of the current tour and pledged to release detailed findings in the coming days.
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