By Joseph O. Sayon
The Development Authority (FDA) with support from the World Bank and the Government of the Kingdom of Norway has begun the construction of a modern regional multi-purpose office complex in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County to house its region three office.
Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Nimba and Bong counties are part of region three of FDA’s four operational regions.
When completed, the FDA facility which is put at USD $ 292,000 will comprise nine offices, five bathrooms and a conference hall and will also host the Environmental Agency (EPA), one of the implementing Entities of the Liberia Forest Sector Project as well as serve as a hub for all FDA and EPA related field activities in the region bordering on sound environmental protection.
The Official ground breaking ceremony was held on Tuesday August 8, 2019 in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County led by the Managing Director of the Forestry Development Authority, C. Mike Doryen and the Superintendent of Grand Bassa County, Janjay Baikpeh with several other government officials and collaborating development partners in attendance.
The FDA region three office project kicks off the construction of all four FDA regional offices located in Tubmanburg, Bomi county (region one), Voinjama, Lofa County (region two) and Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County (region 4) under component one of the Liberia Forest Sector Project which focuses strengthened regulatory and institutional arrangement for the implementation of REDD+.
FDA Managing Director, C. Mike Doryen at the ceremony paid tribute to President George Manneh Weah for the opportunity afforded him and his management team to serve the Liberian people in the forestry sector. He lauded the government of Norway and the World Bank for the donation and management of the fund respectively and passionately raised management’s joy and happiness for the project describing it as a dream come true.
“The construction of the FDA regional office in Buchanan aligns with President George Weah’s recent pronouncement labeling Grand Bassa County as an economic Zone based on the presence of a port and other facilities”, he adds.
The construction project, he stressed will create jobs and put money into the local economy to improve the lives of the people of the region in line with the pro poor agenda of the Liberian government.
He admonished the contractor, Zenith Multiple Company, a Liberian owned firm to exhibit high level of patriotism by making the building meet the highest quality and guarantee that the office suite is sound, modern, up-to-date, durable and internationally acceptable.
For his part, EPA technical advisor, Levi Piah, registered his entity’s irreversible collaboration with FDA in all that it requires to add environmental impetus to sustainable forest Management and sound environmental protection.
While breaking the ground also, Grand Bassa County Superintendent, Janjay Baikpeh, urged the contractor to ensure that the plan for the construction is followed to the letter describing the office project as a milestone that will add significantly to the infrastructural development of Buchanan.
He disclosed that his administration was prepared to provide the workforce to undertake the construction and encouraged the construction firm to give first employment preference to the people of Grand Bassa.
Supt. Baikpeh thanked the development partners of FDA for providing the financing for the implementation of the project and the FDA for its vision promising to work closely with the Doryen-led team as it strives to manage the Liberian forest in a sustainable manner for the benefit of all Liberians and international environmental interests.
