In a move aimed at curbing the illicit sales and theft of scrap iron in Kokoyah Statutory District, the leadership of Bong County has introduced two licensed scrap vendors to oversee the transactions of scrap materials in the district.
The vendors, Ansu Sesay of Sesay Brothers Inc. and Kojo Massalay of Leelah Scraps Business, were unveiled during an official ceremony on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, in Botota, Tukpahblee Administrative District.
The scrap iron, which includes damaged rails, tie-plates, and joint bars extracted by ArcelorMittal Liberia from the Grand Bassa to Nimba County railway, is provided to the counties affected by the company’s concession activities. ArcelorMittal has an agreement with Bong, Nimba, and Grand Bassa counties, which allows them to receive a share of the scrap materials. Seventy percent of the scrap iron is distributed to the affected communities, while thirty percent is allocated to the county leadership for development purposes.
Bong County Administrative Officer Sam Elliott explained that the selection of Sesay and Massalay was the result of a rigorous vetting process to ensure fairness and transparency. He emphasized that the introduction of licensed vendors is part of an effort to promote legitimate business practices and to put an end to the illegal dealings that have plagued the district for years.
Elliott also encouraged the selected vendors to work with local vendors in the district, offering them the opportunity to gain experience and obtain licenses. He tasked Isaac Freeman, Officer-in-charge of Kokoyah Statutory District, with the responsibility of introducing the vendors to all affected communities.
Sesay and Massalay expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged their commitment to working diligently with the district’s leadership and local vendors. They assured residents that their businesses would uphold the principles of transparency and fairness in scrap transactions.
Residents of Tukpahblee, Boinsen, and Kokoyah districts, including local vendors, youth representatives, and women’s groups, welcomed the introduction of the licensed vendors. They praised the county’s leadership for resolving a long-standing issue that had left them vulnerable to unscrupulous and unlicensed vendors. The community members expressed optimism that the new system would bring greater organization and regulation to the scrap sales process, providing a safer and more structured environment for all involved.
Josiah Topoe, Youth President of Kokoyah Administrative District, noted that the arrival of legitimate scrap vendors would address the challenges faced by residents in the past, ensuring they receive fair compensation for their materials.
By Matalay Kollie, Correspondent
