Monrovia, Liberia; The relentless advances of the Atlantic Ocean have battered coastal communities in Monrovia and its environs, making the area a battleground against the fury of nature.
At the heart of West Point, a mother of four and long-time resident, Joanna Ackon, recounts the yearly siege of her home by floodwaters and tales of helplessness.
“Every year, people lose their lives because of the water,” Ackon said as her tone shuddered with frustration.
The Atlantic Ocean runs with the Mesurado River together and overflows during the rainy season, she explained, making fishing impossible and compelling families into perilous conditions.
Madam Ackon disclosed that she has spent over 40 years in the Township of West Point, as she enumerated harrowing nights, citing, “When the water rises, it crashes into our rooms with such force that we have no choice but to stand through the night until daybreaks,”.
Emmanuel Johnson, a resident of West Point revealed that he has been a fisherman for over 20 years but expressed frustration over the alleged refusal by the Government of Liberia to address the looming threats of the Atlantic Ocean.
With tides rising and business disrupted for many, Johnson lamented that the sea has destroyed properties worth millions of dollars as well as compromises the health of over thousands of inhabitants of the township.
“The waves have wrecked our homes and left us with nothing. Our children have suffered and died from waterborne diseases, fungal infections, and malaria. We have seen no governmental relief despite paying taxes and obtaining permits for fishing,” Johnson emphasized.
Johnson added that there are broader implications of the erosion situation in West Point other than simply suffering individual casualty, citing that the scourge has negatively affected the economy of the community which is largely dependent on fishing.
Commissioner MacPherson Daweh said the erosion is a “nightmare” for the West Point community, adding that it has massively affected economic and social activities.
“When we received the news that the Government of Liberia was initiating the coastal defense project somewhere around 2018 to 2019, we were overwhelmed by such a news because we thought it would’ve been the end of our nightmare. Unfortunately, the process had been very slow, it had dragged at a certain point in time and couldn’t hear anything about the coastal defense. From 2019 up to 2024. And as it stands, People are finding it hard to survive, to feed their families,” Daweh said, as he underlines the pressure on the community.
Daweh recalled that in 2014-2015, a flood crisis in the township forced inhabitants of the community to seek refuge in school buildings.
“There is an increase in waterborne diseases and diarrhea during the rainy season. When the water flows into the land, it normally enters the borehole that we use for cooking. This has the propensity to cause an outbreak.
In neighboring New Kru Town, Esther Seton, a resident of the Borough since 2000, corroborated similar distress.
“We have been crying out for assistance for years, but the adequate steps have not been taken to stop the advances of the sea.
Seton narrated a tragic moment when she lost her late mother’s home to the encroachment of the sea and now finds it difficult to rent a place for her family.
Buster K. Chea, of New Kru Town said, “Our homes are in danger. The sea has claimed two of my houses, and now I’m renting.”
Authorities of New Kru Town have called for the Government’s immediate intervention. After former President George M. Weah installed barriers, the protection remained very inadequate.
Governor Moses Doe Weah is calling on President Joseph N. Boakai’s administration to increase support, and eradicate sand mining, which according to him, has further exacerbated the issue.
“If care is not taken, I’m sorry to say but I foresee something that would be more dangerous than hearing just common erosion. If you follow the news, there have been warnings from international groups, and even the Disaster Management Committee warning people around coastal communities to be very cautious of rising tide, and high level of the sea,” the New Kru Town official noted.
West Point has a total population of 30,847 inhabitants, proportionally placed at 15,915 females and 14,932 males respectively, whereas, the Borough of New Kru Town has a total population 71,739 populations – 36,015 are females while 35,724 are males.
Over 15,000 residents have been forced to relocate due to the destruction caused by the sea.
The sea deterioration crisis has not only affected individual residents but has also placed a significant impact on the local economy and environment. Fishermen have reported a decline in their catches due to the changing coastline, as well as businesses along the waterline have suffered from decreased foot traffic.
Efforts being made to stem the crisis include the Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project—a project protecting vulnerable communities and infrastructure from the impacts of climate change.
According to the Project Manager of the Monrovia Metropolitan Climate Resilience Project Zienu V. Kanneh, the delay in funding was one of the challenges that impeded the implementation of the project, noting that critical, co-financing problems have resulted in slow implementation of the $17 million grant from the GCF.
“We are facing delays because of issues with government co-financing, which has crippled us in terms of implementing certain measures,” Kanneh explained.
The Environmental Protection Agency has built rock barriers in New Kru Town, but money remains an issue. EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo says much public and governmental support is still required to fight coastal erosion in the country.
“The task is huge,” Yarkpawolo commented, adding, “and we require more support to protect our coastline from further devastation.”
It is crucial for individuals to refrain from activities like black sand mining, which can worsen coastal erosion and contribute to the vulnerability of these communities. The EPA’s efforts are vital in safeguarding these coastal areas and ensuring their long-term sustainability.
The dire situation of coastal inhabitants, therefore, continues serving as a blunt warning for instant, efficient, and viable intervention as the advancement of the sea persists.
Unless urgent and massive intervention takes place, this path of destruction might further spread, displacing more families and reducing more communities to ruins while predisposing them to outbreaks.
P. Vangeline Kpotoe is a Liberian journalist specializing in environmental, climate change, and economic reporting. Kpotoe, an Internews Environmental reporting fellow, is known for her extensive coverage of issues such as coastal erosion, deforestation, and the economic impact of climate change on Liberia’s vulnerable communities. In addition to her environmental work, Kpotoe has been a vocal advocate for the rights of people with albinism, using her platform to raise awareness and fight discrimination. Her reporting also delves into financial and economic affairs, highlighting challenges in Liberia’s economy and advocating for sustainable solutions to its economic and environmental crises.