Residents of District 6 Stage Peaceful ProtesWanba Town, Montserrado County – A wave of concern swept through the CV Community in Wanba Town as residents of District 6, Montserrado County, staged a peaceful protest on Friday against beach sand mining operations. The protest, attended by elders, youth, women’s groups, and environmental advocates, aimed to draw national attention to the environmental and socio-economic damage caused by unregulated sand mining along Liberia’s coastline.
Chanting slogans and holding placards reading “Save Our Beaches” and “Sand Today, Flood Tomorrow”, the protesters marched through the streets of Wanba Town to the mining site, calling for immediate government action.
One of the organizers, Bub P. Nelton, aggrieved Chair and resident of CV Community, voiced the community’s frustration:
“This is not just about sand. It’s about our future. Our children deserve to inherit a safe environment. These mining trucks come here every day, digging without any concern for the damage they leave behind. We will not stay silent.”
According to Nelton, unchecked beach sand mining has led to increased flooding, weakened housing foundations, and loss of marine biodiversity.
Environmental rights advocate Victor Sumo, who is a resident support the protest, added:
“Liberia’s coastline is one of our most valuable natural assets. What’s happening here is a slow disaster. We need the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Ministry of Mines and Energy to enforce environmental laws and protect vulnerable communities like this one.”
He warned that the long-term impact of coastal erosion could lead to forced displacement of entire neighborhoods if urgent actions are not taken.
However, not all voices at the scene were in opposition. Prince William, a representative of a local sand miners, offered a different perspective:
“We understand the community’s concern, and we want to be part of the solution. Sand mining is our only source of income. We are not criminals; we are Liberians trying to survive. If the government can provide alternative livelihoods or designate regulated mining zones, we are ready to comply.”
The protest ended peacefully, with community leaders delivering a message to Vice President Jeremiah Koung who is a resident and also local authorities, demanding a temporary halt to mining activities and the establishment of a multi-stakeholder dialogue involving government agencies, community members, environmental experts, and sand miners.
The residents of District 6 hope that their peaceful action will trigger national attention and policy response before more damage is done to the coastal environment and the lives it supports.t Against Beach Sand Mining in Wanba Town
