Residents of the Sapo National Park, headed by Sinoe County’s district #3 Representative, Alex Noah, and the management of the Forestry Development Authority (FDA) on Tuesday, September 17, 2024 held a fruitful roundtable discussion on strengthening the relationship between FDA and the community dwellers. The meeting was a request from the district’s lawmaker to the FDA to have a common ground on some concerns raised by the citizens which were not attended to by the past leadership.
In the meeting, the residents of the park, through their lawmaker, presented several requests to FDA for consideration. The request, among other things, includes the construction of hand pumps, provision of scholarships, job creation and demarcation of the park. They further asked FDA to employ some of the residents and provide safe-drinking water as some of the benefits for hosting the park over the years.
At the meeting, the group also informed the management of FDA about the living conditions of the community dwellers hosting the park and the current situation of the park.
Representative Noah assured the management of FDA of his people’s commitment in working with them in preserving the Sapo National Park.
The management of FDA, through the Managing Director, Rudolph Merab, Deputy for Administration and Finance, Victor W. Kpaiseh, and the Deputy Director for Community, Conservation and Carbon, Nora Garmai Bowier, in the meeting assured residents of the park and the district’s Representative of a cordial working relationship in the interest of the country.
The FDA management has therefore guaranteed them of constructing hand pumps through assistance from partners, and employment of qualified residents. The management revealed a rebranding plan that will transform the park, thereby solving some of the existing problems.
The FDA management however urged community dwellers living around the park to keep their eyes on it like their own property, in the best interest of Liberia. The management said the Sapo National Park remains the property of the FDA, and the rights of wildlife animals should always be protected.
The SAPO National Park was established in 1983.