KAKATA, Margibi – Scores of citizens from Gibi District in Margibi have expressed concerns about an abandoned bridge project initiated by the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment.

Construction on the bridge began nearly three years ago, but it has since been discontinued.

The Wohn Waka Bridge Project was funded by the Liberian government, the World Bank, and the European Union, with a total cost of over US$80,000.

The bridge would have benefitted over 40,000 residents who need it for general transportation, in addition to transporting farm produce to the market.

View of the abandoned Wohn Waka Bridge. Photo: Emmanuel Degleh

Jerome Poyoi, a local youth leader in Gibi, accused LACE in an interview with reporters of a lack of cooperation with the youth. He also questioned the quality of work done on the bridge.

“Whenever the water overflows, it covers the entire bridge and [recently], for nearly three days, the bridge was covered by the water. Is that any kind of professional work?” Poyoi asked.

He lamented that on a daily basis, they have to walk long distances due to the bridge’s inaccessibility.

“This is a more difficult situation especially in times of emergencies,” he said.

The LACE Executive Director, Julius K. Sele, said the delay in the project’s completion was due to the locals’ failure to collaborate with the contractor hired to construct the bridge. He told the state broadcaster, ELBC radio, in Monrovia that his organization would resume the project soon.

Featured photo by Emmanuel Degleh