Bong County Superintendent Raises Alarm Over Illegal Mining by Burkinabé Nationals

Bong County Superintendent Hawa Norris has raised serious concerns about the presence of illegal miners from Burkina Faso operating in the county. She highlighted the use of hazardous chemicals in these unauthorized mining activities, warning that they pose significant threats to both public health and the environment.

During a recent inspection tour of development projects across the county, Norris and her delegation, including the County Attorney and Police Commander, discovered a concealed mining operation allegedly run by Burkinabé nationals.

“It was shocking. We were inspecting road projects when we noticed what looked like a hidden path. We followed it, and what we saw was very surprising and dangerous. We must take this seriously because this can kill people,” she said.

Norris revealed that the miners are using chemicals that have long been flagged by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as highly dangerous.

Illegal mining doesn’t just break the law; it destroys the environment and puts entire communities at risk. It leads to deforestation, water pollution, and soil erosion. People drink from these streams, and when the water is poisoned, the whole community suffers.

This is not the first time Liberia has faced such challenges. In 2016, a defect in a processing plant led to a discharge of harmful chemicals, including cyanide and arsenic, affecting over 25 people. Similarly, in 2017, MNG-Gold released three million gallons of toxic chemicals and heavy metals into Sein Creek in Bong County, causing severe health issues among residents.

Despite reaching out to the EPA for a meeting to discuss the issue, Norris noted with disappointment that no representatives showed up.

“We called the EPA for a meeting, but none of them came. We cannot just sit by and watch these people endanger our communities,” she stated.

Superintendent Norris confirmed that local authorities have already seized equipment from the illegal mining site and obtained a passport belonging to one of the foreign nationals involved. However, she stressed that local efforts are not enough to stop the growing threat.

“If you saw the chemicals they are using it’s terrifying. We’ve been warned time and again by the EPA about these substances. These are the chemicals that will kill us if we continue to allow their use,” she said.

Calling for swift intervention, Norris appealed directly to the central government to take action and remove the illegal miners from the area.

“We want these miners out immediately. We are not joking. Whether you are a Liberian helping them for money or a foreigner, we are not here for that. We don’t want money we want our people safe and our land protected,” she declared.