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Liberia: Ferry absence on St. Paul River leads to multiple deaths, loss of business income in Bong

James Fasuekoi

By James Kokulo Fasuekoi|Editor-Publisher

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS BY AUTHOR

The Kpelles of Bonkumu and Lorla clans are hospitable, and traditional people. They welcomed Hon. Jackson George and his entourage in Liberian Traditional styles.

A lingering family-clan feud that has existed in lower Bong County’s Bonkumu and Lorla clans over who should control the township’s ferryboat business and proceeds, came to a head in September, resulting in the temporary halt of the ferry operation, desperately needed by citizens of the area.

Amid the conflict, the boat capsized one night, leaving a middle-aged man who lived on the banks of St. Paul River dead! The victim is said to be the elder son of one elderly man in the area accused of single-handedly running the boat and allegedly pocketing the proceeds. The “death” occurred under mysterious circumstances; villagers told this writer.

Kelebei women at the townhall meeting, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025.

The boat had capsized at, or near the David & Gunta main crossing point, west of Kelebei, Sanoyea Dist., Bong County. It’s located along the dirt road that leads to the gold-diamond belt of Gbarpolu County and the once infamous-forested Liberian maximum prison town of Belle Yellah.

The body of the ferry victim remains at large as of the time of this writing and it was still not clear whether the boat had additional passengers, or heavy loads onboard, although its operation rules, accordingly, forbids it from operating at nighttime apparently due to safety reasons.

David & Gunta crossing point where ferryboat reportedly capsized in Sept. The boat later drifted off miles away downstream to the Lorla Clan and people of that area seized it, according to report.

The incident is reported to have further escalated the feud to an extent it left people divided along family-clan lines, regrettably in absolute contrast to the expectation or purposes for which then Liberia’s Vice President, Amb. Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., donated this ferry in 2017, to citizens of the region.

The decision to halt operation there was reached by the executive director for JNB Foundation, the donor, in collaboration with local citizens groups in the area following the September mishap. The boat had been given out by the charity to benefit citizens, and bring development to the area.

Hon. George’s meeting with townspeople lasted through the night, ending with businesswomen of the township as seen here, who are seeking micro leones from JNB foundation to run business.

Now, the abrupt halt to the ferry operation west of Kelebei, the major town in the area, appears to have grave consequences on citizens plus traders who travel this route daily and conduct business such as gold and diamond, aside of trading agriculture goods or products.

Lately, the citizens said, at least two women died of childbirth due to lack of a boat to cross the St. Paul River in the region and seek timely medical emergency help. St. Paul is a tributary of the Atlantic Ocean. They said, the ferry absence has also affected school children living on both sides of this river who have to commute back and forth daily to attend school.

Kelebei women at the townhall meeting Wednesday.

In a statement presented Wednesday, February 19, to Hon. Jackson George, executive director at JNB Foundation, citizens spoke of how they’ve also experienced significant losses of business incomes lately, due to ferry absence since September accident. They therefore pleaded with Hon. George to resume the ferry operation soon in order to alleviate the suffering of the people.

The township of Kelebei (otherwise spelled as “Kelebi”), has an estimated population of some 3000 people, and the ferry business there has boomed, making up to US $1.6 million (far higher than the rest of five ferries the foundation deployed across Liberia) since deployment in 2017, according to Hon. Jackson George.

Yet, this region can’t account for a single development linked to the booming ferry business there, according to Hon. George, and locals agreed.

Kelebei’s makeshift townhall where citizens met with the JNB Foundation boss, Hon. George.

The JNB Foundation altogether has six active ferries it donated to local citizens and deployed across Liberia at the time Amb. Joseph Nyuma Boakai served as vice president of the Republic of Liberia, or after. Bong and Nimba Counties have two each, while Grand Bassa and Rivercess got one each.

Hon. Jackson George and party were welcomed in Liberian Kpelle Traditional style and presented with white rice (Liberia’s main staple food) and kola nuts. The white rice symbolizes purity. The bowl containing these elements was passed from one hand to the other, with each man or lady, breaking and eating a piece of the kola before it finally reached Hon. Jackson George.

Barner photograph showed a man walks on a 300 ft long heavy cable wire ordered recently by the foundation which will anchor the ferryboat in the area in order to prevent it from drifting off during high tides.