-As citizens embark on a massive cleanup campaign

BY: Shallon S. Gonlor
Contacts: +231881471044/ (WhatsApp) +231778191516

NIMBA COUNTY — After lying in a primitive state for years without much change in facelift, Sanniquellie, the capital city of Nimba County, is poised for a new look after some residents and citizens engaged in ‘clean the city initiative’ along the main street.

Sanniquellie City, a political seat of Nimba County is one of the oldest provincial cities in Liberia with a rich history.

It is where former Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah, Guinean President Sekou Toure, and Liberian President William V.S. Tubman met in 1959 for the founding of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union (AU).

Despite the great African history attached to this city, it is yet to be laid out or even have a memorial hut for the AU. 

It is now that a real paved road is entering the city from Ganta and passing through to Yekepa, where the iron ore that Liberia has boasted of having has been mined since 1963. 

The agreement leading to the pavement was reached during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf with ArcelorMittal, which is currently mining iron ore in Yekepa, Nimba County.

A pleasant community appearance adds to home values, helps attract businesses and organizations, and improves the city’s reputation.

Since 1963, Sanniquellie has been striving every day to enhance city ordinance, clean environment, and beautification, increasing appeal to current residents and visitors in working to give the oldest city a looking facelift.

Entering the new year, 2024, the city of Sanniquellie is working on new ordinances to clean and beautify the city, focusing on promoting a clean environment and maintaining values to attract investors.

The beautification efforts were carried out Wednesday, January 3, 2024, on a four-links street laid out in Sanniquellie City by the Senegalese firm, CSE. Earlier, the main Street of Sanniquellie was completely demolished with houses on the right-of-way all brought down due to alpha pavement from Ganta to Yekepa.

As citizens began constructing new buildings after the demolition, the City Council asked all store owners and others who have their buildings along the main street to build flat-top buildings to modernize the city or give it a facelift.

Currently, flat-top buildings are lined up on the main street and corners of Sanniquellie City, avoiding rusty zinc roofs on buildings, and ensuring a more modern view of the city. 

Meanwhile, on early Wednesday morning, citizens and residents of Sanniquellie, especially youngsters volunteered their services by painting and cleaning the city’s environment to give its beautification or a facelift beginning with the central street downward to the main market ground near Lake Tileh and the police station.

Currently, the main street is taking a different shape as it is with red, white, and blue colors paint.

Speaking to Women Voices News, a son of Sanniquellie, Zarwolo Bamakpa stressed that the project is a self-initiative intended to have a cleaner community to give Sanniquellie a good-looking and reduce the spread of disease and insect infestation.

As part of his ‘clean the city initiative’, Bamakpa said like other cities around the world, beautifully designed, it was necessary to demonstrate the same in his community.

Bamakpa contended that he intends to do so before the new year season, but due to a lack of limited resources, he could not go ahead with the process.

He narrated that it was another opportunity to do so after the New Year celebration because dirt left behind in the streets by celebrants of the New Year was cleaned up before the painting of the streets.

Bamakpa used the occasion to extend gratitude to all those who contributed to the process, youths who volunteered their services, and the city authority for joining them.

Environmental cleanliness is crucial for promoting health, well-being, and overall quality of life by maintaining clean surroundings, both at home and in public spaces, and providing tips on how to achieve a cleaner environment.

According to him, a clean environment reduces the risk of illness and infection by minimizing the presence of harmful bacteria, viruses, and allergens, stating that regular cleaning and proper waste disposal can help create a safer and healthier space for everyone.

Addressing psychological impact, Zarwolo Bamakpa maintained that a clean and tidy environment can have a positive effect on mental health.

He added that to maintain a clean and healthy environment, it is significant to get addicted to regular cleaning, waste management, and decluttering among others.

Echoing a similar voice, Nimba County Youth and Sports Coordinator, William S. Mandien called for the promotion of safe and sustainable hazardous waste treatment.

Mandien said ensuring that hazardous waste is managed correctly requires a consolidated and collective effort, knowledge, and understanding of the available processes, both for recovery and treatment of waste.

He added that it is vital that each waste stream is directed to the correct treatment to avoid health hazards.

According to him, the ‘Clean the City initiative’ is committed to finding better, more eco-friendly solutions to everyday cleaning needs.

There is an increasing realization that health is a multifactorial outcome with strong causal links to the environment in which humans live.

Mandien said a clean environment is essential for human health and well-being.