ArcelorMittal Liberia, in collaboration with the Liberia National Police (LNP), has broken ground for the construction of a modern police depot in Zolowee, Nimba County. The project, fully financed by ArcelorMittal Liberia, is expected to be completed by the end of the year, after which police officers will be deployed to the community.
The initiative follows a request from Zolowee residents during the 2024 visit of Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, amid heightened insecurity risks at the mines. During that visit, residents rejected public claims that Zolowee was a “troublemaking town,” insisting they were being unfairly blamed for criminal activities carried out by outsiders. They accused strangers of collaborating with some equipment operators at the mines to steal fuel, and therefore called on both AML and the LNP to deploy police officers in the town to enforce the law.
The groundbreaking ceremony, held on September 1, 2024, was in response to this request. It was attended by Nimba County Police Commander Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mendin Larmie, AML Security Manager Francis Bangura, representatives of the Security Expert Guard Agency of Liberia (SEGAL), local chiefs, AML’s Community Relations Section, staff of AML’s Infrastructure team, and representatives of the contracted construction company, A & E International.
Welcoming the guests, Zolowee Town Chief Roland Dolo said, “We gave this land ever since and have been expecting this project. People have been lying on Zolowee, and we want a depot here to prove whether it is really our people doing what they are accused of. This project is overdue.”
ACP Larmie praised AML for underwriting the cost of the depot and emphasized that Zolowee had been unfairly branded as a base for troublemakers. He said the construction of the police facility demonstrates the community’s commitment to peace.
“The fact that the people willingly provided this land for the Government of Liberia to construct a police depot is clear evidence that Zolowee has been misrepresented,” he said. Larmie assured that the police will be “friends of the community,” working to keep the peace and protect residents from intimidation and harassment.
AML Security Manager Francis Bangura recalled that the idea of building a police station in Zolowee was conceived in April 2024. He stressed that as a development partner, ArcelorMittal is concerned about the welfare of citizens in its concession areas.
“AML wants to see the people of Zolowee, Makinto, Gbapa and surrounding towns living in peace. That is why we supported this idea alongside the LNP,” he explained. Bangura commended Town Chief Dolo and local elders for donating land for the project, noting, “It is the police that will run the depot, but it is ArcelorMittal paying for it and ready to provide any additional support.”
AML’s Superintendent for Construction and Infrastructure, Jenkins W. Teaway, clarified that the project is being implemented jointly by the company’s Security Department, its Community Relations Section, and the LNP. In line with AML’s employment policy, most of the workers are being recruited from the host community.
He explained that A & E International is handling construction, and the facility will meet government-approved police standards. It will include three holding cells (for juveniles, women, and men), offices for the Chief Inspector and Charge of Quarters, and other essential spaces.
A & E International’s Manager, Prince Zee, assured the gathering that with materials and manpower already in place, the project will be completed and ready for dedication by December 2024.
