—- As Liberian Contractor Excited Over ArcelorMittal’s Commitment to Empower Local Businesses
IPNEWS: ArcelorMittal is constructing three new playgrounds in Yekepa, Grand Bassa, and Bong counties to provide children the opportunity to cultivate social, emotional, cognitive, and physical abilities.
Since has proven to us that children are constantly learning through playmaking new friends, sharing, taking turns, and interacting with other children.
These community playgrounds built by ArcelorMittal will offer a multitude of benefits that go far beyond aesthetics and giving kids something fun to do away from the classroom.
They are at the heart of the select communities and an indispensable gathering space that can benefit all children.
Students, local government officials and community dwellers in both Frank Diggs and Zoweinta Towns in Grand Bassa and Bong counties have been happy praising the work of ArcelorMittal for the ongoing project.
At one of the groundbreaking ceremonies in Frank Diggs town over the weekend, a woman named Alice, filled with excitement detailed how she believes the new playground will help transform school going children into productive adults.
“We want to thank ArcelorMittal for this new playground. Since my husband and I came here, this is the first time the children will be able to play free in a place dedicated for them to play”
Alice believes the project will achieve its goal of keeping children in communities close to the train track from playing along the rail.
“It is risky for the children to use the railway as playground, and I think ArcelorMittal is farsighted enough to do this and that is why we the women of this town are grateful to the company for this playground”.
The paramount Chief of Blehzee District Andrew Kpah was also appreciative of AML’s kindness to its host communities wished the beneficiaries will use the playground for the intended purpose.
Chief Kpah committed the community will help in whatever way possible and ensure that the project is completed and dedicated in time.
In Zoweinta, Bong County, after a series of acclamations by residents of the town, their representative- Albert Hills lauded the community playground project as “great relief”.
“The recreational center is a great relief to our children because many at times some of them when they travel and see these things in other communities, they feel bad and think that society don’t have time for them, and they also feel that they have been left behind”
“I personally want to extend my thanks and appreciation to ArcelorMittal-Liberia family for this recreation center project that will put smile on the faces of our children” he added.
The Bong District #1 representative urged constituents to be a part of “this process because, this recreation center will encourage those of us whose kids are not going to school to now begin going to school with their friends because the school and the facility will now be more attractive”
Rep Hills however appealed to ArcelorMittal to see if the project can go across all districts in Bong County “so as to put smile on the faces of our kids and future leaders”.
ArcelorMittal’s community development teams in the three counties have committed that all playgrounds will be completed and dedicated at the end of April 2023.
On Tuesday, March 21, 2023, dozens of children in Zoweinta Town, Bong County lined the streets to witness the arrival of fabricated materials for the construction of the first-ever playground by ArcelorMittal.
Liberian engineering firm-Unique Harvest Inc is hired to construct three playgrounds under the ArcelorMittal-Liberia Phase-II Expansion Project community development initiative -“Safeguarding our Communities Program”.
St John Frank Diggs Community in Grand Bassa and Camp#4 in Nimba County will also benefit same project.
Interestingly, Nimba D-9 TV reporter made time with the chief executive officer of Unique Harvest Inc Prince G. Domah in Zoweinta.
An excited Domah was full of compliments for ArcelorMittal’s clear demonstration of commitment to develop and strengthen the capacity of local Liberian businesses.
Said Domah: “We are grateful to ArcelorMittal-Liberia through its partners for believing in Liberian engineering company like ours to help serve our communities together with them”.
“From community entry to sites selection, groundbreaking ceremonies and now implementation, we have seen that indeed, the playgrounds will serve the needed purpose and bring more kids back to schools and keep them safe for harm.”
Domah said all three playgrounds will be completed on or before April 28, 2023, noting he was “saying this because of the fullest support we are receiving from the communities and our partners”.
He said the under-construction playgrounds have inspired excitement across the three communities so far with scores of children overwhelmed to say the least.
“As a Liberian contractor, we are happy that ArcelorMittal-Liberia will continue to see us as partners in serving our communities and we are grateful”.
He added “ArcelorMittal-Liberia has added more value to us by showcasing what we at Unique Harvest Inc can do”.
CEO Domah also said as ArcelorMittal’s Phase-II Expansion Project rolls out, his business will continue to engage AML for even greater opportunities.
In his concluding comments, engineer Domah advised Liberian companies to be proactive and innovative in all they do and be committed to timely delivery of projects.
