ZWEDRU, GRAND GEDEH – The Ministry of National Defense has called on all citizens and foreign residents within the Sapo National Park to vacate the area in order to protect wildlife and preserve natural resources.
The Sapo National Park, which lies between Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, and River Gee counties, has reportedly been misused by both citizens and foreigners for illegal gold & diamond mining. These miscreants also hunt and farm in the protected forest. The army says that these activities yield no tangible benefits for the affected communities and Liberia as a hold.
The assertions were made by Assistant Minister Oscar Mulbah, along with the Chief of Public Affairs, Lt. Col. En. Jebboe when they both appeared on a community radio station “SMILE FM 98.6 MHz” in Zwedru Grand Gedeh County on Friday, August 29.
Meanwhile, they urged illegal occupants within the Sapo National Park to vacate or face unspecified actions from the Armed Force of Liberia (AFL).
According to Assistant Minister Mulbah, the Ministry has been monitoring continuous illegal activities in the park, including illicit mining and hunting, which he described as a direct threat to natural resources and national development. He emphasized that while the government’s engagement with residents around the park should remain civil and respectful, he emphasized that violations of the evacuation order will not be tolerated. At the same time, Lt. Col. Jebboe assured the public that the Armed Forces will be deployed in the coming days to ensure the process is carried out with ethics and professionalism. He further stressed the readiness of the military to prevent any resistance or deviation from the evacuation exercise.
