BONG MINES, BONG COUNTY – There is a popular adage that: “Home is always home”. This adage has inspired a group of former residents of the once popular mining town of Bong Mines, located in lower Bong County. Back in the day, the mining town was a place to be, as mining activities swept the heavily endowed mineral landmark in central Bong County.
The Bong Mines has always been known as a large iron mine located in central Liberia in Bong County. Bong represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Liberia and in the world having estimated reserves of 4 billion tonnes of ore grading 36% iron metal. A railway connects the mine to the capital city, Monrovia. At some point in time during the dry season in Liberia, Bong Mines supplied Monrovia, the Liberian with electricity to beef up power supply of the Liberia Electricity Corporation prior to the civil war.
Located approximately 150km north-east of Monrovia, Bong Mines was taken over by China Union in 2008 with an investment of $2.6bn (HK$21.83bn), following the Liberian 14-year devastating civil war that killed over 250,000 people.
And now, former Bong Miners have decided to spread the word about their remarkable achievements and have taken pride in being Bong Miners with their widow’s might to rekindle heath services in the once glowing mining town.
Read below as they tell their story of what they have done in recent time in once famous and mineral-endowed town.
“Let the world know our story:
In the heart of Bong County, Liberia, a quiet transformation began at the Bong Mines Hospital—a place long burdened by years of neglect and limited resources. The once-faded walls and dimly lit halls had served the community for decades, but now they stand as a symbol of hope rekindled.
The Association of Bong Miners, a group of former residents of the community, dedicated to giving back, launched a remarkable initiative to electrify and repaint the hospital.
Driven by gratitude and a sense of responsibility, they gathered resources from Liberia and The Diaspora. Electricians worked tirelessly to install a reliable power system worth over 80K United States dollars, ensuring that surgeries, emergency services, and maternity care could operate without interruption.
The Association recently signed a 19K contract with a Monrovia painting company to bring color and warmth back to the building, coating the walls in fresh hues to lift the spirits of both patients and staff.
The hospital, once shrouded in darkness and disrepair, will now stand vibrant and energize—a beacon of care and community. The efforts of the Association of Bong Miners proved that when people come together with purpose, even the smallest gestures can spark lasting change.”
Meanwhile, residents of the once glowing mining concession town have lauded their compatriots who once lived, schooled and worked in Bong Mines for not for not forgetting their roots and have decided to give back to humanity.
