Kakata Residents Threaten Radical Approach Over Unpaved Roads

By: Moses M.  Tokpah

editor@news.throngtalk.com

+231777130958 / 886476114

The demand for paved roads in Kakata City, Margibi County continues to grow by the day amid the deplorable condition of roads that have resulted to dust taking over the city.

Besides the Bong Mines Road that connects Kakata to Bong Mines and the Red-light to Ganta Road that passes through Kakata, the city has been without asphalt or concrete paved roads for several decades.

Promise made by former President George Manneh Weah in 2018 regarding the pavement of some major roads in the city including the famous ‘ELWA Junction’ Road, and the Mandingo Quarter to Vai Town Road could not be fulfilled despite public outcry at the time.

During every rainy season, the roads become muddy and barely passible by vehicles while during the dry season the dust engulfs the city.

These conditions have left the residents of Kakata with no other alternative but to protest demanding the Joseph Nyuma Boakai administration to see reason to pave two major roads (Old and New 14th roads) in the area.

The Kakata residents on Tuesday, January 7, 2025 staged a protest and later presented a petition statement to the superintendent of the county, Victoria Worlobah Duncan.

The residents also presented copies of the same petition to the Margibi Legislative Caucus, the President Pro-tempore of the Liberian Senate, the Ministry of Public Works and the Internal Affairs Minister.

The petition, according to the Kakata residents through Mr. Sandy Saye Johnson, was meant to seek the intervention of the government to pave the roads instead of having them rehabilitated as it is being reported in many quarters.

They, in the petition said the two roads are in a state of disrepair characterized by potholes, cracks, gulley erosion, and uneven surface, among others.

According to them, Gompa, Gbarnga, Buchanan, and Voinjama that are far from Monrovia are boasting of the pavement of more community roads while Kakata that is next door to Monrovia with more concession companies is in dying need of sustainable developments such as paved roads.

Among many things, the Kakata residents said the deplorable conditions of the roads are posing significant risks to the lives of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians while economically it is hindering the efficient movement of goods and services resulting in higher transportation costs, delays, and loss of income for local businesses.

They then gave Superintendent Duncan four days ultimatum to address their concerns, but she reportedly failed to do so.

The Kakata residents on Wednesday, January 29, 2025 staged another protest this time in reaction to the ‘failure’ of Superintendent Duncan to address issues that are within the petition.

The Kakata residents including students, motorcyclists and some eminent citizens of the area paraded the main street of Kakata and marched to the county administration building where they renewed call for the pavement of the roads and demanded that the superintendent addresses their concerns.

And Superintendent Duncan in response to them, acknowledged receipt of the petition, but said she has been engaged with some national issues such as the National County Sports Meet.

Supt. Duncan further indicated that despite her engagements, she contacted a member of the group requesting that they meet on Friday, January 31, 2025 to discuss the forward march of their issue.

Mr. Johnson on the other hand said calling a member of the group (Citizens United For Sustainable Developments) was not the right channel of communication adding that the Superintendent should have called the leadership rather than an ordinary member.

Meanwhile, the Superintendent and the leadership of the group have agreed to meet on Friday, as was requested by her, but the Kakata residents have threatened to take a radical approach if the result of the meeting goes contrary to their expectations.

However, the Kakata residents did not outline the specific radical approach that will be taken by them if their concerns are not adequately addressed by the Superintendent who is the vice jury of the president in the county.  

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