By: Gabriel Parker
GBARPOLU COUNTY – Several residents in Electoral District One, Gbarpolu County have begun expressing serious disappointment over the operations of BAO CHICO Resources Liberia Ltd in the affected communities.
At the weekend, chiefs, elders, women, and youth of the county gathered in Gokala Town along with their District Representative Zinnah Norman, to voice their grievances against the presence of the company.
Residents claimed that since the commencement of BAO CHICO’s operations, they are yet to feel any positive impact though the company continues to take away millions in US Dollars from minerals taken from the county.
The residents alleged that the company has been extracting resources from their communities without any tangible development that would better the lives of residents.
“God gave us these resources so that anyone who comes to extract them, we can benefit from it, and tomorrow we can point to something tangible,” said Madam Matenneh Konneh, a female representative from the Gbonbon Clan in Bopolu District.
In addition to the lack of community development, residents further alleged that BAO CHICO has refused to employ locals – describing the company’s action as a complete disservice to the people of the area.
They said the unemployment rate has deepened the already struggling economic conditions in their communities. “My first disappointment is that this BAO CHICO will not do anything for us,” said Kenneth Tuff, another resident of Gbonbon clan, in a heartbreaking tone. “When you visit the affected communities, you will not even know that a company is operating there,” he added.
The aggrieved residents stressed that instead of bringing development, the mining operations are doing more harm – citing environmental degradation and worsening poverty levels in the affected areas.
They called on the government and other relevant stakeholders to intervene and ensure that companies operating in their areas contribute meaningfully to local development.
Representative Norman
Meanwhile, District One Representative Zinnah Norman then assured the residents that he would engage the company and national authorities to address the many concerns voiced out by the residents.
He emphasized that natural resources must benefit the people whose lands are being used.
BAO CHICO
Speaking on behalf of the company, the Human Resource Officer of BAO CHICO, Sylvester Jallah admitted that the company has not really employed anyone from the County since signing its MDA and that all of its current workers are all contractors.
He assured the residents of engaging the management of the company in addressing their concerns in the coming weeks.
The residents vowed to continue advocating until their voices are heard and real development reaches their communities.
It can be recalled in November 2021, BAO CHICO resources Liberia Ltd began its mining operation in Gbarpolu County, following the rectification of a twenty-five-year Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the Government of Liberia.
The agreement grants the company a class “A” mining license to extract Iron ore over an area of 84.4 square kilometers in Bopolu and Suehn Mecca districts of Gbarpolu and Bomi Counties. Despite its operations, the company has faced criticism from local communities, especially from its operational areas.
