POOR COMMUNICATION OVER THE SALES OF SCRAPS CAUSES STANDUP BETWEEN CITIZENS AND AUTHORITY IN BONG COUNTY
March 25, 2025
By Matalay Kollie +231886888153/777533373
Gbarnga Bong: The lack of effective communication and proper introduction has led to a standup causing mis-understanding between residents of Kpaai district and the leadership of Bong County over the sales of Scraps Irons in the district.
It can be recalled on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, the leadership of Bong County dispatched a team of officials and two selected scrape vendors to Kokoyah Administrative District to unveil the businessmen to residents of the area as legitimate vendors of scrap irons in the district.
The delegation was led by the county’s Administrative Officer, Sam Elliott, and local officials of the district, including residents of Kokoyah and Tukpahblee Administrative Districts.
During the unavailing ceremony of Sesay Brothers Inc. and Leelia Scrape Business the two legitimate vendors, administrator Elliott charged Kokoyah Statutory District Officer-ln-Charge Isaac Freeman with the responsibility to properly introduce representatives of the two companies to residents of the entire district but said mandate appears not to be executed by IOC Freeman, as residents of Kpaai have started selling their scrap irons to different vendors.
During the early morning hours of Sunday, March 23, 2025, a ten-tire truck transporting a large quantity of scrap materials from Kpaai District was impounded by officers of the Liberia National Police Bong Detachment during a routine check.
According to sources, the arrest was made due to the failure of the county’s authorities, especially OIC Freeman to properly introduce the selected scrap vendors to residents of Kpaai District. However, Police authorities in the county told our reporter that they were not informed about the selection and unveiling of the selected scrap vendors in the county something that prompted the arrest.
The police later released the impounded truck after vendors involved in the purchase presented all necessary documents, including permits and licenses to verify their legitimacy in the purchase of scrap irons in Bong County.
In response to the incident, several residents of Kpaai District expressed dissatisfaction with the county’s selection process of their preferred vendors and promised to continually remain engaged in the sale of their scrap irons to any vendors of their choice if authorities of the county fail to properly inform the community about the vendors’ selected process.
The situation has raised concerns about proper communication between local authorities and residents, as well as the lack of clearly coordinating and regulating scrap vendors in the area. When contacted, Sam Elliott, Bong County Administrative Officer, acknowledged the situation and promised to address the concerns in the coming days.
