By Patrick Stephen Tokpah
/BONG
Bong County authorities have broken ground for the construction of a Library at the Ernest Jerome Yancy (EJ Yancy) Multilateral High School in Totota, Salala District, as part of efforts to improve the learning environment and enhance students’ study in the County.
The initiative is being spearheaded by the office of the County Superintendent, Hawa Loleyah Norris, and Bong County Caucus Chairperson Prince Moye.
According to Superintendent Norris and Moye, the project is made possible through a recent allotment of US $50,000, earmarked specifically for the construction of the EJ Yancy Multilateral High School Library.
Senator Moye said Superintendent Norris emphasized that the funding will be used to address the critical needs of the students in Lower Bong County.
The Bong County two authorities assured the residents of Salala that the current leadership of the county intends to decentralize the development of the social and county development funds through various initiatives.
The Principal of the EJ Yancy Multilateral High School, Augustine Zabay, has meanwhile
lauded the authorities of Bong County for the development.
The EJ Yancy Multilateral High School Principal described the groundbreaking ceremony of the library as a new day for the improvement of the learning environment of the institution and the student communities of lower Bong County.
He further revealed that the library when completed will ease some of the difficulties Teachers and students of Salala District have been going through in terms of research.
Remarking, at the ceremony, the Director General of the Liberia Agriculture Commodities Regulatory Authority (LACRA), Christopher D. Sankolo thanked Bong County Superintendent Norris and Senator Moye for always initiating people center project in the county.
He further emphasized that the citizens of Bong County are now feeling the impact of their social and county development funds in terms of the construction of the needed projects.
The LACRA Director General at the same time used the occasion to encourage Liberians to put more emphasis on agriculture, citing it as an important source of development for the country.
Director General Sankolo emphasized that agriculture remains the backbone of many developing economies and urged citizens to take advantage of the country’s rich natural resources.
He also revealed that LACRA will soon begin a nationwide mapping of cocoa farmers, adding that the initiative aims to gather comprehensive data to improve policy planning, traceability, and support services within the cocoa sector.
According to LACRA’s new data, agricultural commodity exports skyrocketed from 2,660 metric tons in 2023 to over 35,000 metric tons in 2024, noting that the jump reflects growing investment in the sector and improved market access for local producers.
DG Sankolo attributed the growth to improved regulatory systems, better farmer collaboration, and increased international demand for Liberian agricultural products.
He pledged that LACRA would continue working to enhance the sector’s competitiveness on the global stage.
As Liberia continues to diversify its economy, agriculture is increasingly seen as a pillar of national development, with LACRA playing a leading role in ensuring quality standards, boosting exports, and supporting farmers across the country.
The EJ Yancy Multilateral High School Library groundbreaking ceremony which was held over the weekend was attended by several local leaders, Directors, Deputy Ministers and Assistant Ministers, educational stakeholders, students among others.