Montserrado County Senator Saah H. Joseph has called on the Government of Liberia to provide compensation or resettlement plans for citizens affected by the ongoing government evacuation and demolition exercises being carried out by the Ministry of Public Works.
Speaking during his constituency break briefing at the Liberian Senate, Senator Joseph expressed deep concern over what he described as “unfair treatment” toward residents whose homes are being demolished without adequate arrangements for relocation or compensation.
“Some of those individuals, yes, we agree, are on government land, but many of them sought refuge there during the civil crisis since 1990,” Senator Joseph stated. “As a government, it would be good if there should be some arrangements made to give them compensation or land in rural Montserrado County where government has thousands of acres available.”
He added that simply breaking down homes and ordering citizens to vacate “is a disservice to the people of Montserrado County,” emphasizing that the lack of consultations or coordination between the Ministry of Public Works and local authorities has created hardship for hundreds of families in districts including 6, 10, and 17.
Meanwhile, the Montserrado lawmaker also raised alarm over the increasing cases of kidney failure across the country, linking the trend to unregulated food imports and poor food safety standards.
“The dialysis machine that the government purchased is no longer working,” he lamented. “It costs about $300 per session, and patients need at least three sessions a week. That’s $900 weekly—what becomes of those who cannot afford?”
Senator Joseph attributed part of the problem to the “frozen foods and low-quality imports” entering the country and urged the Ministry of Commerce and other regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of food imports.
“We need the food regulating body to look into this matter,” he said. “The kinds of frozen food—chicken wings, chicken legs, and others—coming into the country need proper inspection. People are getting sick because of what they’re consuming.”
Senator Joseph further appealed to his colleagues for the creation of a Special Health Assistance Fund to support citizens who cannot afford hospital bills, particularly those suffering from chronic conditions.
“There are citizens who simply cannot pay the cost of treatment in our hospitals,” he said. “If we can create a special fund to assist them, it would bring relief to many struggling families.”
Despite the challenges, the Senator shared some positive updates, announcing that the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has begun work to extend electricity to Bensonville and surrounding communities in Montserrado County.
“After 14 years, work has finally started in Bensonville to bring electricity to the area,” he said proudly. “This will improve the lives of thousands of residents and boost development in rural Montserrado.”
Senator Saah Joseph concluded by reaffirming his commitment to advocating for the welfare of his constituents and ensuring that government development projects are implemented fairly and humanely.
“We must serve the people with compassion and justice,” he said. “Our duty is to make sure that progress does not come at the expense of the poor.”
