BDA & Partners Dedicate Over US 230K worth of projects in Bong; as Citizens expressed excitement

By: Matalay Kollie, Bong County Correspondent
matalaykollie0@gmail.com

BOWAY TOWN, Bong County: Boway Development Association (BDA) in partnership with the Mt. Horeb Church of Lexington, South Carolina, USA Outreach to Liberia recently dedicated two modern bridges and 12 housing units in Boway Town, Panta District#4, Bong County.

The bridges which were officially dedicated and turned over to residents of the Town on 10, February 2024 are linking Boway Town to neighboring towns and villages in the district.

At the dedication and turning over ceremony, the President of the Boway Development Association, Josiah Nuelah Domah expressed satisfaction in the successful completion of the projects, adding that the longtime suffering of residents in the area has now come to an end.

According to Mr. Domah, before the construction of the bridges, residents in the area used logs to cross the creeks, a situation he said was dangerous for residents of his native Town during rainy seasons.

“People lost their lives while crossing these logs or wooden bridges through car and motorbike accidents and pedestrians broke their legs and hands while crossing these bridges.
There were times when pregnant women and sickling mothers made dangerous crossing on these logs just to access care at nearby health centers. But with the modern bridges those challenges are finally over,” Mr. Domah noted.

He continues: “Every one of us did it together to make it work. This is not a Lawmaker or government project, adding, funding for these projects was provided by the residents, the US Embassy through a grant that was won through a proposal, Mt Horeb Church, and former Senator Henry W. Yallah among others.”

Mr. Domah also extended commendations to former Bong County Senator Henry W. Yallah, Madam Catherine Rodriquez, Charge d’ affairs of the US Embassy in Monrovia, Mt. Horeb Church of Lexington, South Carolina, USA missions Outreach to Liberia, residents of Boway Town and its surrounding towns and villages for their contributions toward the projects.

Additionally, Mr. Domah placed the estimated cost of the projects (Bridges) at fifty-four thousand three hundred eighty-three fifty cent United States Dollars ($54, 383.00 50 cent USD), adding that residents of Boway Town provided labor, in addition to a contribution of financial assistance, as well as sand, rocks, and other construction materials.

“We thought it wise to say we will not sit down and say because there is no development coming from the national government, our lawmaker, and then our people will continue to suffer in the waters,” Domah said.

The Boway Development Association President promised that his office would continue to work with citizens across the district to undertake community development projects.

Moreover, the District Clark of Panta District, Daniel K. Tokpah who proxy for the District commissioner, lauded the efforts of the Boway Development Association and its partners for the initiative, noting that the citizens had supported the project since it was announced to be a priority for them.

The Economic and Commercial Assistant/Coordinator of the Ambassador Special Self Help Project of the US Embassy, Blamo B. Nimle, who represented Madam Catherine Rodriquez, Charge d’ affairs at the US Embassy in Monrovia was in attendance for the dedication ceremony and performed the cutting of the ribbon and formally announced the completion of the bridges.

The Economic and Commercial Assistant/Coordinator of the Ambassador Special Self Help Project at the US Embassy expressed his satisfaction that the bridges will provide easy access to both the town’s residents and farmers transporting their local produce to the market.

He also thanked the citizens for their remarkable effort in making the bridge completion a reality.

For this part, the Coordinator of the Boway Development for the Housing Unit Project of the Mt. Horeb Church of Lexington, South Carolina, USA missions Outreach to Liberia Rev. Dr. Jerry P. Kulah said the dedication ceremony of the homes for the “least of these” is intended to restore their hope of living in modern homes with a scripture reference taken from Matthew 25: 40.

The Boway native said having lived in a hut years ago, it was unacceptable for his citizens to continue living in shanty structures and such miserable and deplorable conditions.

Rev. Kulah assured the residents of Boway Town that, like their counterparts in other places, they will also have the experience of living in homes that contain kitchens, bathrooms, tiles, and other facilities.

He revealed that Mt. Horeb Church will construct 30 modern housing units in Boway Town and out of said number they completed and dedicated 12 of the housing units and the remaining 18 will be constructed and dedicated to the people of the area.

He placed the estimated cost of the completed 12 housing units as one hundred and eighty thousand United States Dollars ($US 180,000, adding that each of the houses cost USD 15,000.

Also speaking, the Mission Director of the Mt. Horeb Church of Lexington, South Carolina, USA, Janis Albergotti expressed delight to the citizens of Boway Town for their support of the projects.

The Mt. Horeb Church Mission Director further offers a prayer for the residents of Boway Town for God continue blessing upon their lives as they live in their new home.

Mrs. Albergotti further assured the citizens of her institution’s commitment to doing more development for the overall betterment of their living conditions in that part of Bong County.

In conversations with this Paper during the dedication, citizens of the area extended commendations to the leaders of BDA and partners for the construction of the modern bridges and the housing units in the area.

“What the BDA and partners have done in this community will forever be remembered in history because we were suffering and during the rainy season we are cut off completely from other parts of the county,“ the locals said