By Solomon T Gaye
Cross border trades have once resumed along the Liberia-Guinea route in Nimba County following the St. John River overflowed.
The nearly weeklong disruption was a result of the river bank overflow on the Guinean side of the border; though natural, it brought normal trading activities at both sides to a standstill.
Officers of the Liberia Immigration Service assigned at the border in Gompa City, who prefer anonymity, revealed that the river is gradually receding on the Guinea side of the border thereby creating some relief for the merchants and residents of the two countries.
According to the LIS officers, vehicles that were stranded on both sides of the borders have started departing to various destinations as the river on the bridge recedes, making way for safe vehicular movement.
“Many of the vehicles already left the port of entry over the weekend on September 13, 2024, after being stranded for over a week at both sides.
“The river is receding, Liberians who were stranded in N’zerekore, Guinea are now returning and this is creating a sigh of relief among the residents in the district”, some officers of LIS declared.
During a normal routine visit over the weekend at the Liberian side of the border in Gompa, some of the LIS female officers assigned at the checkpoint were heard arguing over what is commonly known as ‘gate drop’ of LD$50 which they demanded travelers to pay before crossing the gate.
Since the heavy down pour of rains in the country, several dwelling homes situated along the river banks in Gompa and along the river belt have been affected by the river. This is creating hardship among the residents in the county who reside along the fringes of the border.
Gompa main border comprises of seven unrecognized crossing areas that are mostly used by unscrupulous business people and travelers to smuggle goods and wares into the country.
When contacted over the weekend the joint security guide post at the Custom Inspectorate at the Gompa border, conformed the resumption of cross border trade.
“The Guinea Sokepa Palm Oil Company’s trucks that were grounded here waiting for the river to recede have now all left for Guinea this morning”, one LRA officer disclosed.
