By Tokpa Tarnue,Tarnue822@gmail.com
VOINJAMA, Liberia- A self-help town hall project valued at US$1,535 Citizens has been dedicated by citizens of Massamai town in Voinjama district, Lofa County, northwest of the country.
Speaking recently at the dedicatory ceremony, the chairman of the project, Aaron Kollie said the success of the town hall construction was solely through the contributions from Massamia citizens both in and out of the town and that was projected in 2014.
He also praised stakeholders, including Lofa County district #4 Representative, Mariamu Fofana for donating four bundles of metal roofing sheets towards the project.
“Since 2005, when we returned from 14 years of civil conflict, CHF International, now known as Global Communities constructed a temporary town hall for us, but we observed on the other hand that there was a need for us to construct a town hall on our own, which we embarked on up to this level,” Mr. Kollie said.
He further praised the youths and women of the town for their incredible efforts in ensuring the completion of the self-help project.
Also speaking, Massamai’s town chief, David Korvah, said residents used their talents and resources to achieve the development: “Today, we are indeed thankful to God for this self-help initiative, which speaks of unity to the entire world, and we are proud to be called Massamai Citizens United for Development.”
For his part, Lofa county Assistant Superintendent for Development, Samuel Mulbah, who served as keynote speaker, noted that the successful completion of the town hall construction by the citizens shows how they are committed to maintaining the country’s peace.
“I am happy for Lofa citizens to be thinking in such dimension of developing their own environment, and not depending on [the] national government,” Mulbah said.
Government will not always do all and cautioned citizens to always get involve in self-help projects which promote developments, he said.
“I want to thank all of you for this project, and even the number of people that have come to fund part of the dedication ceremony tells me that Massamai citizens are peaceful.”
The Assistant Superintendent for development encouraged the citizens to always remain engaged with one another in order to attract more essential development.
Voinjama district’s commissioner, Albert Salee officially cut the ribbon for the project. He lauded the citizens’ initiative and promised to continuously work with them in achieving more.
“I pledge my loyalty and hands of support to any town in the district that sees development as [a] major priority,” Mr. Salee promised.
Back in 2019, citizens of Massamia town also completed a self-help bridge project entering their town; an initiative that was also sponsored by Massamia citizens.