EPA Commences Massive Demolition In Wetland Communities

April 16,2025

By Laymah Kollie

Congo Town: The Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia has begun a massive demolition exercise across wetland communities in Montserrado. Structures being affected by the action include houses built in waterways, businesses and homes built in alleys.

The demolition of structures which officially kick-off in 72nd Boulevard around the much talk about Ghana’s Chop Bar is expected to extend to other wetlands areas across Montserrado.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, working with the Presidential Executive Order 143 Taskforce Against Encroachment on Beachfronts, Waterways, and Wetlands, along with the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), Paynesville City Corporation

(PCC), Monrovia City Corporation (MCC), Liberia Land Authority (LLA), General Services Agency (GSA), and backed by the Liberia National Police (LNP), has begun a joint demolition exercise today, April 16, 2025.

This exercise is being carried out to enforce the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia (EPML) and the orders outlined in Executive Order 143. The demolition is taking place in the following areas: SKD Boulevard, Police Academy, Tyler Island, and Jacob Town.

Statistics from the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) of Liberia between March to August 2024 Liberia approximately recorded over 60,000 victims of flood in several communities in three of the countries’ fifteen counties.

The counties are Grand Bassa, Margibi, and Montserrado. The situation affected over 5,200 households and displaced over 26,000 individuals. The disaster didn’t only cause physical damage to citizens but also inflicted psychological and emotional constraints on these families. Speaking to Reporters during the process, Mr. Baiyezenah Brown, Environmental Inspector at EPA said, the demolition is in accordance with regulatory measures to curtail floods in Liberia.

Brown said houses built in wetlands and waterways have contributed highly to unfortunate water damages in the country. Maintaining, that while Liberia draws closer to the middle of another rainy season, it is important to reopen these drainages for proper water control. “We are doing this exercise in preparedness of the rain.

You see these houses in the swamp land, they are main factors for floods in the country” he said. Frowning on the possession of wetland, Mr. Tom Wesley Korkpor, Assistant Director at the Liberia Land Authority echoed that wetlands are sole property of the government, as such, citizens should not be acquiring illegal ownership to them. “Wetlands are for government; they should be preserved. Our people need to stop building structures in the swamp. When you’re caught, you will bear the consequence for it” Mr. Burton Dorley, Technical Environmental Focus Person at Paynesvillie City Corporation (PCC) stressed the constant violation of instructions by the citizens.

Dorley at the site told Newsmen that authorities have on several occasions notified residents through a “stop work order” but some allegedly continued to expand their facilities. “Some were even served citations but they never ahead to it.

Soon enough we will start experiencing heavier rains, and if these structures are not taken down people will badly be affected by floods”. However, citizens being affected by the action expressed dissatisfaction over the process.

Meanwhile, EPA on April 8, 2025, held a press conference to inform the public about the planned demolition. All affected individuals were notified ahead of time, and the EPA awareness team also held meetings with violators to inform them. Moreover, EPA has sent out warnings to all individuals and businesses with structures in wetlands, waterways, and beachfronts to voluntarily remove them now.

If they fail to do so, the government will have no choice but to carry out more forceful demolitions. mThe Institution instructed that people who are currently building or dumping dirt in these restricted areas are also warned to stop immediately. Stating, “the flooding and destruction caused by last year’s rain due to blocked drainages and illegal building should be a serious lesson to everyone”.