By Patrick Teah
The findings of Verity News investigation have proven that Mining activities, including illicit mining, are rapidly destroying Liberia’s lands, forests, waters, communities, and environment.
An ongoing investigation by Verity Online News has uncovered what residents describe as an escalating environmental and humanitarian crisis caused by unreclaimed mining sites across the area.
Across several active and inactive mining locations in Forpoh, deep pits created by heavy-duty excavators remain uncovered and filled with stagnant water. These abandoned sites have reportedly become dangerous swimming spots for children living in nearby communities.
Residents confirmed that drowning incidents have already occurred, with victims believed to be minors who unknowingly entered the pits.
“This is a complete disaster for our people,” one resident told Verity Online News. “Our children are using mining holes as swimming pools. Lives are being lost.”
The investigation also observed excavators and other heavy equipment being used in ongoing mining activities, suggesting that large-scale extraction operations remain active in the area.
While mining can potentially contribute to local economic growth and job creation, many residents say the benefits have not been clearly seen within the community. Instead, citizens argue that the environmental damage and safety risks now outweigh any visible development.
Questions are increasingly being raised about the role of the Environmental Protection Agency in monitoring mining activities in the county. Residents allege that although EPA representatives and county officials occasionally visit Forpoh, there has been little to no enforcement of land reclamation requirements.
Some community members further claim that visiting officials often remain within the town rather than inspecting the active mining sites located outside the main settlement.
“We can see county authorities coming here,” one youth told Verity Online News. “But no reclamation is done. The EPA will come, but they allegedly stop right in town and go back. We don’t know their real presence here.”
Under Liberia’s environmental regulations, mining companies are required to rehabilitate mined-out land to prevent environmental degradation and public safety hazards. Failure to reclaim such sites can create long-term dangers for surrounding communities.
Environmental observers warn that unreclaimed mining pits can lead to several serious consequences, including soil erosion and the destruction of farmland, contamination of local water sources, increased mosquito breeding that may heighten health risks, and long-term ecological damage.
In response to the growing concerns, residents of Forpoh are calling for immediate action, including a full investigation into mining activities in the area, the reclamation of abandoned mining pits, transparent reporting on mining permits and environmental impact assessments, and stronger monitoring by the Environmental Protection Agency and county authorities.
The situation in Forpoh, District #2, highlights broader concerns about environmental governance and community safety in Grand Kru County.
Residents say economic activity should not come at the cost of human lives and are urging national authorities to intervene before more tragedies occur.
For many in Forpoh, the message remains clear: development without accountability poses a serious danger to the people.
