Residents of the Brooklyn Community in Gbarnga, Bong County, are calling on local authorities to urgently relocate the city’s largest cemetery, citing serious public health risks and growing security concerns.
The graveyard, which has existed for decades, now sits uncomfortably close to homes, schools, and the Gbarnga Central Prison. Community members say it has been left in a state of neglect, overrun by bush and garbage, and is now doing more harm than good.
“While we respect the dead, the living are suffering,” said one resident. “Sometimes people dump dead bodies here and leave them unburied. When they decompose, our children fall sick.”
In interviews with BanaBridge News, residents described years of frustration over the lack of action from county authorities. They say repeated complaints have been ignored, and despite numerous letters and community meetings, nothing has changed.
According to residents, the cemetery has also become a hotspot for criminal activity, including vandalism, loitering, and even open defecation and illegal trash dumping.
“There’s no fence, no supervision. Criminals hide there, and it’s dangerous. Our kids are exposed to all of this,” said another concerned parent.
The emotional toll is just as heavy. Families say children and the elderly are constantly exposed to funerals and grave digging, with many describing the environment as mentally distressing.
“This place is no longer sacred. It’s a threat,” one community leader told BanaBridge News. “We’ve written letters. We’ve begged. Still, nothing.”
The residents are now appealing directly to Bong County Superintendent Madam Loleyah Hawa Norris and the Liberian government to intervene and relocate the cemetery to a more appropriate site; one far removed from residential neighborhoods.
“This is a matter of health and safety,” they emphasized. “We can’t continue to live like this.”
The Brooklyn Community’s plea adds to broader conversations across Gbarnga about the urgent need for zoning enforcement, improved burial infrastructure, and better urban planning.
As of the time of publication, Bong County authorities have not publicly responded. Residents say they remain hopeful that their unified voice will finally bring about change.
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