By Benson Matic Mokko/Margibi County Correspondent
Bong/Margibi Counties, Liberia — For years, China Union has operated in Bong and Margibi counties, presenting itself as a multi-million-dollar mining company. While that may be true, residents living around its areas of operation say they continue to face serious challenges as many of them are claiming their concerns have received little attention.
Despite years of efforts to highlight the difficulties confronting affected communities and lack of improvement of the communities, residents say meaningful action from both national and local authorities remains limited.
Under Liberia’s Mineral Development Law, communities affected by mining activities are expected to benefit from a percentage of the company’s annual Social Development Fund.
Residents argue that the benefits have not translated into significant improvements in their daily lives.
Community members say they continue to struggle with unemployment, limited access to safe drinking water and healthcare, and restrictions on their freedom of movement, despite the millions of dollars generated from the country’s mineral resources.
Farmers are also raising concerns over the impact of mining waste on their livelihoods. Residents allege that overflowing waste from the mining area is damaging farmlands and contaminating nearby water sources, threatening both agriculture and access to clean water.
The affected communities are now calling on the government and relevant authorities to take urgent action to ensure that mining companies fulfill their social responsibilities and that communities hosting Liberia’s natural resources receive meaningful benefits from those resources.
