A team of technicians from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia, led by Inspector General R. Baiyezinah Brown, recently paid days working visit in Grand Kru County to enforce environmental laws against illegal mining activities in Dougbo Town.
The visit comes in response to longstanding complaints from local residents and civil society groups about illicit operations threatening the environment and livelihoods.
According to the EPA, Marcus Woart & Abednego Chaou, Incorporated had been carrying out Class “B” gold mining operations in Dougbo without securing the legally required environmental permit under the Environmental Protection and Management Law (EPML) of 2003.
The agency’s inspectors, after confirming community complaints filed on August 20, 2025, verified the violations during a field assessment on September 17, 2025.
As a result, the EPA issued a notice of violation, imposed a fine of US$5,000, and ordered the restoration of the degraded area.
The payment, to be made into the government’s consolidated account through the Liberia Revenue Authority, must be completed within 10 working days. Copies of the enforcement documents were presented to county and local authorities, including the paramount chief of Diayoken Chiefdom, Bestman K. Toby, and other community leaders.
The enforcement action drew strong reactions from residents. Deacon Elijah Chaou, father of one of the company’s operators, welcomed the EPA’s presence despite the sanctions, noting that it marked the first time the agency had physically visited Dougbo since the county’s establishment in 1984. “Despite the fact that you are here to enforce the laws, we appreciate your presence. Awareness of such is really needed for the betterment of our community,” Chaou remarked.
Grand Kru County Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner Clement Barlatt, also pledged the cooperation of the joint security in ensuring that government regulations are respected. The EPA’s intervention is being hailed as a necessary step to protect local ecosystems and uphold the rule of law in resource governance across Liberia’s mining communities.
