Africa-Press – Liberia. Liberia has taken a major step toward strengthening its environmental governance with the official opening of a new headquarters and a state-of-the-art scientific laboratory for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Mamba Point, Monrovia.
At a ceremony held on Wednesday, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo described the launch as a landmark development in the agency’s history, highlighting the lab’s advanced forensic capabilities that will allow Liberia to conduct environmental testing locally—something that previously required costly and time-consuming outsourcing to foreign laboratories.
Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized the strategic importance of the new lab as Liberia prepares to enter the global carbon market. He noted that the country is currently conducting comprehensive inventories of its forests and carbon stocks, which will help determine Liberia’s carbon potential and enhance its negotiating position internationally.
“For years, the EPA lacked the critical scientific infrastructure needed to effectively execute its mandate,” he said. “With valuable equipment provided by partners like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the EPA is now ready to be robust and effective in ensuring the protection of lives and the environment.”
Dr. Yarkpawolo added that nearly USD 100,000 was invested in the laboratory, which will become the cornerstone of evidence-based environmental regulation. The new facility will allow Liberia to monitor water quality, test air pollution levels, track coastal erosion, and analyze critical climate data.
“This enhanced capacity will empower the nation to make informed policy decisions that directly protect public health and the environment,” he said. “It will also strengthen Liberia’s ability to comply with its international environmental and climate commitments under the Paris Agreement.”
The event was attended by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, Sr., who praised the project as a symbol of the government’s commitment to sustainable development and sound environmental management under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Speaking at the inauguration, Vice President Koung said the EPA had for too long operated out of rented, substandard facilities that failed to meet the very environmental standards the agency was created to enforce.
“This operational fragmentation not only hampered efficiency and coordination but also cast a shadow on the agency’s credibility, which has now changed,” he said.
“And today, I am proud to say that change has come. The new headquarters, a result of a nearly USD 75,000 renovation, now stands as a testament to the nation’s renewed dedication,” he added.
Vice President Koung commended the EPA’s Senior Management Team, led by Dr. Yarkpawolo, for their leadership and commitment to bringing the project to completion. He described their efforts as “remarkable” and emphasized that the upgraded facilities would play a vital role in improving environmental regulation across Liberia.
The Vice President announced plans for the construction of a permanent, climate-resilient headquarters for the EPA within the next three to five years.
He said the future building would be entirely powered by renewable energy and feature green building technologies, setting a new standard for sustainable public infrastructure in Liberia.
“This flagship structure will showcase climate-smart urban design, serving as a model of modern, environmentally responsible development,” he said.
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