Global Steel Giant, ArcelorMittal, has further extended its community engagement to communities in two key affected counties with the provision of more than US$300,000 for the implementation of citizens-centered projects in Nimba and Grand Bassa counties.
The projects, which include major road rehabilitation in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa, and the construction of a community healthcare center in Gbapa, Nimba County, are part of the companyโs outreach activities aimed at enhancing a mutually rewarding relationship with local communities in its operational areas.
Under this initiative, ArcelorMittal Liberia is collaborating with Grand Bassa authorities to rehabilitate foremost community roads throughout Buchanan, at the cost of over US$263,997.
The road rehabilitation in Buchanan has already covered the road connecting Tubman Streetโs intersection to AML compound, the Government Hospital Road-Kilby Street, Pipeline Road, which leads to the Grand Bassa University, the historic Upper Buchanan Road, Own Your Own Road, Monrovia Junction, among others.
Implementation of these projects come as a result of a December 2021 request by Grand Bassa County Superintendent, Janjay Baikpeh, and other leaders of the county, who asked the management of ArcelorMittal Liberia to help with the rehabilitation of roads in the city.
The management of ArcelorMittal agreed and responded swiftly to the calls of the communities and their leaders to fix the roads, which have been badly damaged by heavy downpour of rain over a long period of time.
Flee Glay, Development Superintendent of Grand Bassa, commended the company for its prompt response to the local county authorityโs request for assistance and thanked ArcelorMittal Liberiaโs management for the goodwill.
โWe are grateful for your contribution to the development of our county,โ the development superintendent added.
ArcelorMittalโs Communications Manager, Winston Daryoue, who was on the scene of the construction in Buchanan said this is not the first time for the company to rehabilitate deteriorating roads in Buchanan; ArcelorMittal Liberia has in the past worked on several roads in Grand Bassa, and will continue to do more.
โThe company is prepared to continuously work for the Liberian people,โ he said.
Locals in the communities hailed ArcelorMittal for the road construction, and promised to support the companyโs operations throughout Liberia.
Emmanuel Davis, a motorcyclist, remarked, โI appreciate ArcelorMittal so much for the hard work done. We are so happy for this Upper Buchanan road.โ
โThis road,โ he emphasized โwas in a deplorable condition but now that ArcelorMittal Liberia is rehabilitating it I am very happy.โ
Another resident of the Four Houses community, Enoch Moses, described the rehabilitation of the road as โa New Yearโs gift to the people of Bassaโ.
โAs a member of the community and a significant contributor to the economy, ArcelorMittal Liberia reaches out as often as possible through its corporate social responsibility programs to improve the lives of the citizens in the county.โ
Meanwhile, in Nimba County, the construction of a community clinic in the Town of Gbapa, near Yekpa, has received a major boost with the donation of an additional US$35,000 (thirty-five thousand United States dollars) by ArcelorMittal Liberia to complete the project.
This donation follows an initial contribution of US$50,000 (fifty thousand US dollars) by ArcelorMittal toward the construction of the same clinic about a year ago.
At a ceremony to present the US$35,000 cheque, held in Gbapa Wednesday, January 5, 2022, ArcelorMittal Liberiaโs Head of Government and Community Relations, Marcus Wleh, said construction of the Gbapa Community Clinic was a good example of what can be achieved by communities through partnership with ArcelorMittal Liberia.
Wleh commended the people of Gbapa community for taking the initiative of constructing the clinic and for their contribution to the project, assuring that AML will continue to support such a positive endeavor.
โThis will not be the end of ArcelorMittal Liberiaโs support to the clinic. This money is intended to finish the building and have it running. ArcelorMittal Liberiaโs approach is to forge partnership where communities contribute to the implementation of projects to show ownership.โ
The AML Head of Government and Community Relations announced that 2022 is a year of more positive actions by AML in communities.
Also speaking at the occasion, Nimba Countyโs district #3 Representative, Joseph N. Somwarbi, expressed satisfaction over the Gbapa Community Clinic project and commended ArcelorMittal Liberia for the support.
Representative Somwarbi called on residents of district #3 to continue to collaborate with ArcelorMittal Liberia to achieve more in community development.
He noted that he was overwhelmed with joy and grateful to the ArcelorMittal family for the timely gesture.
The lawmaker urged the people of Yarmein, as the traditional hosts of AML, to pledge their unwavering support to the company so that both sides could collaborate and form a partnership in support of the districtโs development agenda.
Representative Somwarbi told the residents that the establishment of the clinic will help address the many health issues in the area, including maternal mortality, and underscored that the sooner the clinic is completed the better it will be for them to work with the government to ensure that it is captured in the budget.
Wednesdayโs presentation of the US$35,000 towards the completion of the Gbapa Community Clinic is the latest major contribution by ArcelorMittal to the project.
At the inception of the clinic project, ArcelorMittal contributed US$50,000 in material, which helped kick-start the construction work.
When completed, the Gbapa clinic will be the first and only health facility in the area.
