MONROVIA, Liberia — Geologist and community advocate Melvin George Pongay on Thursday, November 6 — Liberia’s Thanksgiving Day—led a large-scale cleanup in Rock Hill, the Ducor/Snapper Hill–Mamba Point corridor where he grew up, urging residents to keep public spaces clean and comply with city ordinances.
“This is my way of giving back to the community that raised me,” Pongay said as hundreds of youths and adults mobilized under the banner “United Friends of Mr. Pongay” along Benson Street and UN Drive near the old Ducor Hotel. “Cleanliness is next to godliness. Keeping our surroundings clean is cardinal to our well‑being and health.”
Residents welcomed the exercise, calling it unprecedented for a “son of the soil.” “We are truly grateful for Mr. Pongay’s support,” said Alexander Yallah. “It has lifted our community to another level in keeping with city ordinances.” Community leaders also encouraged others with means to emulate the effort and support youth engagement.
Pongay said the initiative is personal and nonpolitical but open to partnerships. “My gesture is purely personal and driven by my passion for the community where I was born,” he told reporters. “However, I’m open to collaboration with anyone—individuals, organizations, or institutions—who share this vision.” He stressed the need to keep young people positively engaged and out of harmful activities, particularly in urban communities.
Civic Group Joins Effort The Green Revolution of Liberia, a pro‑democracy and civic advocacy group, joined the cleanup. Its national chairman, Manja Varney Gbessay Kromah, said the group participated in solidarity and expressed interest in future collaboration. Kromah also suggested Pongay consider legislative service in the future, citing his technical background and potential oversight value for mining and concessions.
Second Community Intervention This Year Thursday’s cleanup follows Pongay’s August back‑to‑school drive, when he donated notebooks, pens and pencils to more than 200 students in Rock Hill (District 7, Montserrado) to ease the burden on parents ahead of the 2025–2026 academic year. “Education is the strongest tool we can give our children for a better future,” he said then.
About Melvin G. Pongay Pongay is the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Sangaba Pongay of Lofa County. His family was among the first settlers of Rock Hill, where he was born and raised. A graduate of Wells Hairston High School and the University of Liberia’s College of Engineering, he holds a degree in geology and several international professional certifications. He is known locally for advocacy around children’s education, youth empowerment and community upliftment.
Thursday’s effort, residents said, underscores a simple point: meaningful change often starts at the neighborhood level—one clean street at a time.
