EDWARD H. STEMN<\/b><\/p>\n
Africa-Press – Liberia. <\/strong><\/span>When the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 2019 invested a little over US$158k to construct a transborder trade facility in Pedebo, Maryland County, it anticipated that the facility would increase trade and cooperation among residents of communities along the Liberian-Ivorian border.<\/p>\n But four years on, the facility, which was constructed under the Mano River Road Transport Facilitation Program, now lies abandoned as it is no longer being used by the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) or residents of the host communities.<\/p>\n The market contains several stalls for dry goods sellers, a hand pump, storage, and two sets of flushing toilets with a water supply system. It was also meant to revitalize the local economy and provide a platform for small businesses to thrive, stakeholders said.<\/p>\n \u201cThis market facility has been abandoned due to its failure to attract vendors and customers,\u201d said a local official who requested anonymity. \u201cThe lack of interest and participation from the local community has resulted in a deserted and unproductive space.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis has not only wasted the financial resources allocated to the project but has also hindered the economic growth and development of the area,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The official blamed the abandonment on the lack of productivity and engagement from the citizens.<\/p>\n However, the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) Maryland County General Superintendent, Abraham C. Wilson, disagreed and blamed the dormancy on the lack of cooperation from his Ivorian counterpart.<\/p>\n According to Wilson, the Ivorians have refused to rotate days on both sides of the border. He also said the situation is due to the inability of residents living in the surrounding communities to grow the necessary products to attract buyers.<\/p>\n \u201cOur people who live around the border, for whom the market was built, do not actually have produce to take to the market for people leaving from Pleebo, Harper, and other areas to buy.<\/p>\n \u201cThe people said their soil can only grow sugar cane, and you know those from the Ivory Coast will not want to cross the river only to buy cane juice,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n Wilson claimed that while he has been working with the county superintendent’s office to design plans and strategies to make the market functional, those who live around the market seem to have no interest in the building.<\/p>\n \u201cThe LMA and the local authorities need to assess the reasons behind the market’s failure and take appropriate measures to address the issues.<\/p>\n \u201cThis may involve conducting a thorough evaluation of the project\u2019s planning and execution, as well as engaging with the local community to understand their needs and concerns,\u201d Wilson said.<\/p>\n For More News And Analysis About Liberia<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" EDWARD H. STEMN Africa-Press – Liberia. When the African Development Bank (AfDB) in 2019 invested a little over US$158k to construct a transborder trade facility in Pedebo, Maryland County, it anticipated that the facility would increase trade and cooperation among residents of communities along the Liberian-Ivorian border. But four years on, the facility, which was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":40767,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,5],"tags":[233,237,234],"class_list":["post-40769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-economy","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-liberia","tag-liberia"],"yoast_head":"\n