Monrovia, Liberia — Residents of the Shoe Factory community, District 12, Mountserrado County, say a foreign excavator company has blocked their main alley for two years, damaged the road, and refused to reopen it, while local authorities have yet to act.
According to the affected residents, the company’s activities have allegedly destroyed roads, blocked drainage systems and denied community members access to their homes, schools, businesses, hospitals and other essential services.
The residents claim they have repeatedly reported the matter to their community chairman and leadership, as well as the Township Commissioner and the District #12 Representative, but said no action has been taken to resolve the situation.
They said the blocked alley serves as a major passageway for residents living in that section of the Shoe Factory Community.
According to the residents, community members previously engaged the company through dialogue and requested that it remove its machines from the alley, reopen the drainage allegedly blocked by its fence and repair roads they claimed were damaged by the movement of heavy earth-moving equipment.
However, they alleged that the company has failed to take the requested actions.
The residents further accused the company of showing disregard for their concerns. They claimed that during engagements with affected community members, representatives of the company allegedly told them to “do anything” they felt necessary and maintained that the company was not responsible for repairing the damaged road.
The residents also made additional allegations regarding statements attributed to company representatives concerning their relationship with government authorities. These claims could not immediately be independently verified.
The situation, residents said, has continued for approximately two years, leaving many community members frustrated and concerned about their ability to freely access essential services and carry out their daily activities.
They are now urging the Government of Liberia and all relevant authorities to intervene and ensure that the matter is investigated and resolved.
“We are entitled to our rights as a community, including access to roads made for the public,” the residents maintained, calling for urgent government action.
The affected residents say they are looking forward to a timely intervention that will reopen the blocked alley, address the drainage concerns and ensure that damaged roads are repaired.
