In Western Liberia’s Gbarpolu County, the small town of Godoma sits atop vast deposits of iron ore, gold, and valuable timber. Dense forests surround the community, underscoring its natural wealth. Yet despite these abundant resources, residents continue to fetch water from a nearby creek for drinking and domestic use—a stark reminder of the uneven distribution of Liberia’s riches.
At the heart of the issue is BAO CHICO, an iron ore mining company operating in the area since 2022. Section 8 of the company’s Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) obligates it to provide safe drinking water and establish health facilities offering 24-hour medical care. However, nearly four years into its operations, Godoma has seen little beyond a rehabilitated road under the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program. No hand pumps, no clinics, and no reliable access to clean water have materialized.
A recent visit revealed that more than 100 residents of Godoma Town in Gungbaya Chiefdom still depend entirely on the Godo Creek. Human rights campaigners describe the situation as insensitive and dangerous, given the health risks associated with untreated water.
“We can drink from this creek, but this water is not good,” said resident Musu Brawn, balancing a bucket of water on her head. “We drink and hope for better, depending on God because we need safe water.” Another villager, Famata Burphy, echoed the frustration: “No safe drinking water for us in this town. We have asked plenty of our big people to help us, but no good response. They only promise during election time.”
For Chairlady Mamai Dukuly, the reliance on Godo Creek is a decades-old reality. “Since I came here in 1991, this is the water I met,” she explained. “Godo Creek is our savior because we do not have a hand pump here.” But the creek is far from reliable. During the dry season, it shrinks to a trickle, leaving families desperate. Worse, open defecation around the water source continues despite warnings from authorities, compounding the risk of waterborne diseases.
Residents report frequent stomach illnesses, particularly among women and children. “No money can remain in our hands,” Dukuly lamented. “Every small money we get, we spend it on medicine.” She is appealing for urgent intervention: “We need a hand pump and safe water now.”
Experts stress that access to clean water is not a luxury but a necessity. In Liberia, the crisis is widespread. Reports indicate that more than 60 percent of the population lacks safe drinking water, with thousands dying annually from waterborne diseases. Rural communities like Godoma are among the hardest hit, forced to rely on contaminated sources that jeopardize health and livelihoods.
Community leaders are now calling for accountability. Paramount Chief Johnson Dannah of Gungbaya Chiefdom insists that “water is life” and urges BAO CHICO, the county administration, and the Gbarpolu Legislative Caucus to act. “It is time for change, not just promises,” he declared.
The plight of Godoma illustrates the broader challenge of resource management in Liberia. While the nation’s soil is rich in minerals and forests, its people often remain poor, deprived of basic services. The disconnect between corporate commitments and community realities raises pressing questions about governance, accountability, and the true beneficiaries of Liberia’s natural wealth.
For Godoma’s residents, the demand is simple: clean water. Without it, the promise of development remains hollow, and the creek—once a lifeline—continues to symbolize neglect in the shadow of untapped riches.
