PHOTO: Workers at the construction site
By Emmanuel Mafelah, mafelahemmanuel29@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Construction works have resumed on the MNG Gold Liberia’s Kokoyah District Clinic project in Sayewheh town, Bong County after the project were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the company’s Public Relations Officer Lloyd N. Ngwayah have disclosed.
The area is situation over 169 kilometers from Monrovia.
In early March this year, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the construction of the facility, with an estimated cost of little over $150,000 United State Dollars.
According to Mr. Ngwayah, the ongoing project is part of the company’s corporate social responsibility support to the citizens for extracting gold from the community.
When completed, the 13-bedroom and nurses quarter project will provide health services to employees of the company and citizens of the district.
Works on the project were suspended, in order to avoid gathering together in huge numbers at the construction site, according to Mr. Ngwayah.
But after a period of break, the company has seen the serious need for the workers to resume operations.
Although Bong County hs a zero case of the COVID-19, the company’s Public relations Officer says workers have been encouraged to strictly adhere to the various health protocols.
Despite the many challenges face by the company, especially with procuring materials for the construction of the health center during this humanitarian crisis in the Country, Mr. Ngwayah intimated that MNG Gold management remains committed to promised made to the people of Kokoyah by completing the project at the end of 2020.
He further said that the clinic is a public facility and government is expected to take responsibility for its management. However, the issue of initial salaries, for staff will be negotiated between the government of Liberia and MNG Gold Liberia, he said.
The Gold mining company will soon begin working on the damaged MNG’s Kokoyah High School and Vocational Training Center which got damaged in 2018 as a result of fire during final stages of its construction, the company’s Spokesman disclosed.
“If all goes as planned, the school construction is expected to be completed and open to the public by the 2021/2022 Academic Year.”
Mr. Ngwayah also narrated that the company is expected to shortly embark on the construction of an approximately 10 miles’ feeder road linking Dolo Town through New Town and Ulah Town to Camp #2 Town in Boinsen District, Kokoyah Statutory District, Bong County.
“The new feeder road construction is a request made by the district representative Hon. Albert Hills and Sen. Yallah on behalf of the district and communities along the road.”
The public relations department and the company’s engineer recently conducted an assessment on the route of the proposed feeder road and is being considered by the Management of MNG Gold Liberia, Mr. Ngwayah said.
“Despite the economic and public health challenges, we remains committed to our corporate social responsibility as a company, “Ngwayah stated.
In another development, the company through his office honored an invitation from the Botota Immanuel Baptist Church Vegetables Farming Group.
After initial discussion with members of the farming group, according Ngwayah they promised to incorporate the self-supported farming group into the MNG’s Local Agri-Business Support Project and link them to the company catering department for possible business partnership.
The MNG Gold is calling on citizens and residents of the Bong County, especially those in Kokoyah to cooperate with the company in actualizing its developmental plans.