BENTOL, Montserrado – The Superintendent of River Cess County, Matthew Z. Daniels, has disclosed that the bad road conditions in the county is causing a serious problem for residents and other commuters.

Daniels told The Bush Chicken that the road connecting Grand Bassa to River Cess is in a terrible condition.

“Prices of goods and other commodities have skyrocketed, making life very difficult for residents in that part of the country,” he said. “The road is completely damaged to the point that vehicles plying the route spend two or three days before reaching [their] destination.”

The superintendent recalled that even petty traders from nearby towns and villages had moved into areas along the road to sell to stranded passengers.

“Our biggest challenge in the country is how to deal with the bad roads to enable residents and others commuters bring in their goods,” Daniels said. “Something needs to be done…”

Matthew Z. Daniels, Superintendent of River Cess County. Photo: Zeze Ballah

He pointed out that the torrential rains and the logging in the area were contributing factors to the current state of the roads.

“Logging companies in the county are still carrying on their operations during this rainy season, which is not good for the kind of roads in the area,” Daniels said.

He said the government was negotiating with logging companies to help recondition the road for easy access of goods and other commodities.

When the Bush Chicken contacted Jesefu Keita, the Director of Communications and Documentation at the Public Works Ministry for comment, he said the ministry had developed a dry season plan to address the terrible roads nationwide.

Jesefu Keita, Director of Communications and Documentation at the Public Works Ministry. Photo: Zeze Ballah

In most parts of rural Liberia, roads are difficult to ply during the rainy season due to the deplorable state. Some vehicles become stuck in the mud, spending days or weeks on the road before reaching their destination. Liberia’s rainy season is just ending, which should bring some relief to residents of rural Liberia.

Featured photo by Paul Kannah/Ministry of Public Works