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By: Nukanah Kollie/ IFAJ-Alltech Young Leader & Fellow/ [email protected]
As the rainy season intensifies across Liberia, residents of Brooklyn Community, a densely populated area in Gbarnga, are raising growing concerns over flooding, environmental degradation, and worsening living conditions they believe are linked to ongoing sand mining activities in the area.
For many families, the fear is no longer only about damaged land. Residents say the issue now threatens their safety, livelihoods, and the future of a community already struggling with poor roads, weak drainage systems, and abandoned public infrastructure.
Standing near large pits carved into the earth, Wendell S. Dunbar, Quarter C Chairman of Brooklyn Community, described what he called a growing environmental crisis that has left residents anxious and frustrated.
“We do not know what will happen next because the flooding is getting serious,” Dunbar said during an interview with the Liberia Agricultural and Environmental Journalists Network (LAEJN).
According to him, several residents who purchased land in the community have either delayed construction or abandoned building plans because of continuous sand mining taking place around their properties.
“We have a lot of illegal miners operating in our community. Many people bought land there, but they cannot build because the miners are taking away the sand,” he alleged.
The community leader specifically accused a man identified as Prince T. Kollie and other miners of continuing operations despite repeated complaints from residents and community authorities.
“We have tried many times to stop them, but they are still operating,” he claimed.
Residents say the issue goes beyond land disputes. They fear that the removal of large quantities of sand is weakening the soil structure and increasing the risk of erosion and flooding, especially during heavy rains linked to changing weather patterns and climate pressures affecting many parts of Liberia.
Community members also worry that stagnant water collecting in abandoned pits could become breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other health hazards.
Environmental experts and government agencies in Liberia have repeatedly warned that poor environmental management, unregulated mining activities, wetland encroachment, and weak drainage systems are worsening flooding risks across the country.
In 2024, Liberia’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that construction in wetlands and waterways significantly contributed to flooding in several communities around Congo Town after heavy rains affected more than 200 homes. The EPA warned that wetlands naturally serve as water reservoirs and that environmental degradation is increasing the country’s vulnerability to floods.
National and international climate reports have also linked Liberia’s growing flooding challenges to climate change, environmental degradation, and poor land management practices. According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), low-lying communities across Liberia are becoming increasingly vulnerable to flooding due to poor drainage systems, environmental pressure, and climate-related impacts.
In July 2024, Liberia’s National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) reported that severe flooding affected at least 40 communities across Montserrado, Margibi, and Grand Bassa Counties, displacing more than 48,000 people. Authorities warned that an estimated 100,000 people across Liberia remain at risk from flooding, coastal erosion, and extreme weather events.
Environmental authorities have also cautioned that increasing rainfall intensity, erosion, and human activities around rivers, wetlands, and freshwater ecosystems are putting more communities at risk. Liberia’s EPA noted in 2024 that freshwater ecosystems and river systems are under growing pressure from pollution, human activities, and climate change.
Residents along the Jor Creek in Gbarnga say these national warnings reflect what they are already experiencing locally as flooding and environmental concerns continue to grow around Brooklyn Community and nearby settlements.
Beyond the environmental concerns, Quarter C Chairman Wendell S. Dunbar alleged that the continuous sand mining activities are leaving behind dangerous open pits and degraded land, increasing fears of erosion and worsening flooding within the community, especially during heavy rainfall.
He warned that if the mining activities continue unchecked, more homes and properties could be affected in the future.
The community leader is now calling on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), city authorities, and the central government to urgently investigate the mining activities and assess possible environmental contamination, including concerns over water quality and flooding risks.
“I want the EPA people to please come and help us in the community. They need to check the water and see what is happening there,” he appealed.
However, the accused miner, Prince T. Kollie, has denied the allegations and insists he is being unfairly blamed.
Speaking separately in an interview, Kollie explained that he entered the sand mining business years ago during a period of severe financial hardship and unemployment.
“I started digging little by little in the water area because I did not have money and there was no work for me,” Kollie explained.
According to him, what began as small-scale manual digging eventually expanded into a more organized operation after he reportedly acquired rights to the area through local arrangements and conducted surveys on the land.
Kollie maintained that his activities are lawful and denied claims that his work is damaging homes or contributing to flooding in the community.
“It is not true,” he stated firmly.
He argued that the mining area is located far from residential homes and major water pathways.
“If you look at the distance from where we are working to the houses and the water area, you will see that we are far from the community,” he said.
Kollie also suggested that some of the accusations against him may be connected to disagreements over land ownership and business interests in the area.
According to him, government officials and other individuals have previously visited the site and observed the operations.
He further claimed that he has not yet started what he described as “real mining operations” near the main riverbank.
“I am not working on the real riverbank,” he added.
The dispute highlights a broader challenge facing many rapidly expanding communities in Liberia, where urban growth, unemployment, weak environmental enforcement, and increasing climate vulnerabilities often collide.
Across several communities, residents continue to grapple with unregulated sand mining, poor drainage systems, coastal erosion, and flooding that experts say are becoming more severe due to climate change and environmental degradation.
For families in Brooklyn Community, however, the issue is deeply personal.
Some residents fear losing their homes, while others worry about the safety of children playing near open pits filled with water during the rainy season. Community leaders warn that without urgent intervention, tensions could escalate further.
“We are crying for help,” the community leader said. “We want the government and the EPA to come and see what is happening to our community.”
As both sides continue to trade accusations and denials, residents are now awaiting possible action from environmental authorities and local government officials to determine whether the mining activities are violating environmental regulations or contributing to the community’s growing fears over flooding and environmental safety.
