By: Laymah Kollie
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has issued a stern warning to truck drivers and construction companies involved in the illegal backfilling of wetlands without the required permits.
During a recent demolition exercise in the Johnsonville and Jacob Town communities, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo emphasized that any excavation or dumping of dirt anywhere in Liberia requires an environmental permit.
“We have observed that truck drivers are being used as conduits for the unacceptable practice of backfilling wetlands across the country,” said Dr. Yarkpawolo.
“Once again, every development needs an Environmental Permit.
”Dr. Yarkpawolo stated that truck drivers doing business with construction companies or individuals must first obtain EPA permits, which allow the agency to inspect the sites where dirt is being excavated or dumped.
He called on the Truck Drivers Union of Liberia and the Ministry of Transport to support the EPA’s enforcement efforts. “No truck driver should transport dirt without asking for EPA permits,” he said, stressing the importance of joint cooperation in safeguarding the country’s fragile ecosystems.
The EPA has continued its demolition of illegal structures, with recent actions focused on Kpelleh Town, Johnsonville, where wetlands have allegedly been degraded by Chinese developers.
The affected area lies near several schools, including the Multee International School System.Dr. Yarkpawolo revealed that the agency had previously issued a halt order to a compound operated by Ruixu Commercial Concrete, a Chinese company.
However, the company allegedly continued backfilling activities during the night in defiance of the EPA’s directives.
“Without regard to the Environmental Protection and Management Law of Liberia and other relevant laws, the Chinese have backfilled this entire area, significantly altering the landscape,” he said.
“We are here to send a strong message that such actions will not go unchecked.”The EPA boss confirmed that Ruixu Commercial Concrete was operating without a permit, adding: “By demolishing these illegal structures, we are warning both Liberians and our foreign partners—particularly our Chinese friends—to abide by Liberia’s environmental laws.
”Liberia’s Environmental Protection and Management Law, enacted in 2003, places wetlands, rivers, and lakes under protected status.
These areas are considered public lands and are not to be sold or tampered with.Section 75 of the law strictly prohibits draining, blocking, backfilling, or constructing in wetlands.
In addition, Liberia is a signatory to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (1971), an international treaty that promotes the conservation and sustainable use of wetlands worldwide.
In 2024, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) reported that floods affected more than 60,000 people in Grand Bassa, Margibi, and Montserrado counties between March and August.
Over 5,200 households were impacted, with more than 26,000 individuals displaced.
The EPA’s current demolition operations are part of ongoing actions that began on April 16, 2025, along 72nd Boulevard. These efforts fall under Executive Order 143, which created the Taskforce Against Encroachment on Beachfronts and Waterways.
This multi-agency task force includes the Ministry of Public Works, Liberia Land Authority, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Monrovia City Corporation, Paynesville City Corporation, and other relevant institutions.
