BBC journalists helping their own communities, people in Africa

Editor’s Note: Last year, a former student of Fessibu’s Sumo Kota Public School, Sam Howard, posted pictures of students of his alma mater receiving backpacks with other assorted school items as gifts from him. Howard’s charitable act was followed by those of Jonathan Paye-Layleh who donated footballs and jerseys to his Nimba hometeam during the last national soccer league. He later gave out a bunch of loudspeakers for use to educate Liberian voters (many of whom are illiterate) for the upcoming October presidential elections. A third man, Hassan Kiawu, on Sunday, June 25th, took a team of youths to the Liberia-Sierra Leone border at Bo Waterside where they brushed roadsides, cleaned and painted the bridge over the boundary water, the “Mano River” which separates both countries. On Monday, June 26, Kiawu gave a lecture on “Health Literacy” to over 50 medical personnel including doctors, nurses and administrators at Liberia’s largest hospital, John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia. Notice these three gentlemen have a couple of things in common: Howard previously worked for BBC’s Network Africa and so did Jonathan Paye-Laleh, who served for 30 years as BBC’s Focus On Africa correspondent. Hassan Kiawu, a former national newscaster and a former national tracks & field athlete, previously worked too for the BBC as sports reporter during the course of the civil war before landing in North America where he continued work for the station. All three men are Liberians and come from small towns in rural Liberia. Except for Hassan who is Muslim, Howard and Jonathan are both Christian. The key point is the three men have been fulfilling God’s command, found in James 4:17; Hebrews 13:16 and 2 Thessalonians 3:13, which is all about “doing good and serving people.” But as you will find out, Hassan Kiawu, the focus of this story, has been volunteering and doing community services with family ever since he moved back to Liberia. Except for the correction of minor typographical errors, we publish here verbatim, Hassan’s story, as posted to his Facebook page last week.  All pictures by Hassan Kiawu. In this banner photograph, Kiawu stands on the Minor River Bridge and gives a thumbs up at the end of the clean-up exercise.

*Early Sunday morning, June 25, 2023, I mobilized and led a team of volunteers to the Liberian-Sierra Leone border in Bo Waterside, where we cleaned up and painted the Liberian side of the border. I’m pretty used to mentoring or correcting journalists with their common mistakes in English. But this other correction benefits all who travel on the busy border post.

I am not a politician, and I will not be on the ballot either and even in the long run. I’m also not looking for a job. But I felt an obligation as a citizen to step in the gaps for my country once I have the opportunity and capability to do so.

I had traveled to Malema in Sierra Leone to visit my Auntie. As I drove on the bridge on my way back, I saw garbage of all sorts and even plants growing on the bridge. I immediately proceeded to the joint security higher ups at the border post, sought their permission and promised to come back the following Sunday to give the bridge a face-lift.

When I initially conceived the idea, my wife, Garmai George Kiawu and my 12-year-old daughter, Joyce were happy about the gesture. In fact, they fully supported me financially and morally to get the job done. The funds were used to purchase buckets of paints (red, white and blue), provide transportation and feeding for a crew of 12, purchase other painting materials including brushes, rollers, gas and per diems to all volunteers.

In years past, my wife, my daughter and I had mobilized and led a similar cleaning team. We cleaned and covered potholes in Banjor, cleaned the St Paul bridge that links Bushrod Island and Brewerville and the Vai Town to Slipway bridge that links Central Monrovia to Bushrod Island. So, this is no stranger thing for my family. This is one of several community services that my family has rendered the country over the years.

The crew consisted of family members and friends from Monrovia and from my village in Kiawu Town, Grand Cape Mount County. A member of the joint security team rolled up his sleeves and joined up in the painting. Support was received from my Indian friend, Nickey of Sethi Brothers in Vai Town, provided a gallon of white paint while District #7 representative, Solomon George contributed US$50.00 for refreshment. The joint security at the Bo Waterside, delighted over the fulfillment of my promise to do the job and our commitment to render the community service, provided some soft drinks and water.

Shortly after the clean-up exercise was completed, citizens from both Liberia and Sierra Leone were seen rushing to the scene and taking memorial photo shoots and other poses.*

FROM THE EDITOR: For the record, we wish to state that former BBC’s correspondent Jonathan Paye-Laleh later expressed political ambition and intends to vie for a representative post in his home district of Nimba in the upcoming October elections. 

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