By Jamesetta D Williams
MONROVIA–Monrovia City Mayor John-Charuk Siafa says the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) is moving to strengthen sanitation activities across the capital through a more structured approach that includes community cleanups, improved waste collection, digital registration, and the development of additional waste management infrastructure.
Mayor Siafa made the disclosure Thursday at the Ministry of Information, where he outlined several measures being taken by the city government to address sanitation and other challenges affecting Monrovia.
He said Monrovia generates about 1,250 tons of waste daily, but only a fraction of the waste is currently being handled.
According to him, the President’s Clean City Initiative is intended to reinforce ongoing sanitation efforts by the MCC, with particular attention to public spaces, communities, beaches, and waterways.
He said the city has targeted about 40 communities, with plans to visit four communities each week as part of its community-based sanitation activities.
Mayor Siafa said the MCC has also introduced a program called “First Saturdays,” through which city officials and residents work together to clean communities.
He explained that the MCC provides tools and works with community leaders during the cleanups, after which the tools are left with the communities to enable residents to continue maintaining their surroundings.
“The approach is now being supported 100 percent by the President’s Clean City Initiative and expanded to other areas,” Mayor Siafa said.
The mayor said the city is also working to move away from emergency cleanups and irregular waste collection toward a more organized waste management system.
He disclosed that the MCC has begun implementing a digital operating system aimed at linking customers with their locations, billing information, and waste collection services.
He said enumerators have recorded 1,336 structures in the pilot areas over the past two weeks.
Mayor Siafa appealed to residents and business owners to cooperate with enumerators who are visiting homes and businesses to collect information for the registration process.
He said the information will help the city determine the number of households and businesses in communities and improve waste collection planning.
According to him, the digital system will eventually allow residents to report cases where contracted waste service providers fail to collect waste in their assigned zones.
He said the MCC has also identified at least 12 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to be certified under the public-private partnership arrangement.
The companies, he said, are expected to begin operations with about 36 waste collection vehicles and 57 tricycles across different parts of Monrovia.
Mayor Siafa said the MCC is working with the Ministry of Public Works, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Liberia Land Authority to identify additional locations for waste infrastructure.
He said the current waste management location at Stockton Creek receives approximately 1,000 to 1,200 tons of waste, while its capacity is only about 200 tons.
He said assessments are ongoing for possible locations in Gwala, Caldwell, the Planetary area, and Cheesemanburg.
He also disclosed that the city has engaged the owner of a private landfill in Brewerville and has started moving waste there to reduce pressure on existing waste disposal locations.
According to him, the government is also moving waste to another location approved by the EPA.
The mayor further disclosed that the MCC has launched a pilot project at the Fairmont Station to convert waste into fertilizer.
He said the city expects to have its first samples of fertilizer produced from food waste within 30 to 60 days. Once the pilot is completed, he said, the MCC intends to move the product to the market.
He added that the city is also preparing a temporary site and working to establish transfer stations where waste collected from communities can be taken before being transported to appropriate disposal locations.
Mayor Siafa said the MCC has also made progress in cleaning a major cemetery area, which he said has been completely cleaned over the past two months.
He said the area currently has zero waste, while fencing on both sides of the cemetery is almost complete.
He disclosed that the next phase will involve legal review, an audit of graves, and engagement with families and other stakeholders.
The mayor also announced that the city is finalizing arrangements for approximately 100 acres of land to address challenges associated with cemetery space.
He said the city will make an official announcement once the land acquisition process is finalized.
According to Mayor Siafa, the government is considering arrangements that could allow for the relocation of some graves where necessary.
He noted that the cemetery, which dates back to 1863, is among the oldest and largest public cemeteries in Monrovia and requires long-term planning.
Mayor Siafa also clarified the MCC’s position on vacant lots and dilapidated buildings in Monrovia.
He said property owners will be given notice and informed of the actions required to address abandoned or dilapidated properties.
Depending on the seriousness of a case, he said owners could be given up to 60 days to take corrective action.
If the owners fail to act within the required period, the city could seek legal action through the courts.
He said, where legally authorized, properties could potentially be put to public use, including as parking areas, subject to the appropriate court process.
Mayor Siafa said the MCC has redesigned its website to make information about the city’s charter, regulations, activities, and other relevant documents available to the public.
He encouraged residents to visit the website and familiarize themselves with the regulations governing the city.
He also disclosed that a joint assessment team involving the Ministry of Public Works, the Department of Local Government, the MCC, and the Liberia Land Authority has identified a number of structures in and around Monrovia requiring attention.
He said some property owners and relevant authorities have already been notified, while some cases have proceeded to court.
The mayor said the MCC is also addressing the welfare of its employees through salary restructuring.
He disclosed that more than 32 managers have had their salaries restructured.
He further said 49 janitors, cleaners, and mechanics have also benefited from salary adjustments.
Mayor Siafa said the restructuring is part of efforts to improve the internal operations of the MCC while supporting workers who provide essential services to the city.He emphasized that the sanitation program is not intended.
About The Author
