As He Launch New EPA Laboratory
Monrovia, Liberia – Dedicating the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) permanent headquarters and commissioning a state-of-the-art Elemental Analyzer that will end the country’s long-standing reliance on foreign laboratories for environmental testing, President Joseph N. Boakai announced a new era for environmental governance in Liberia on Thursday, July 16.
During the dedication event in Monrovia, President Boakai stressed that Liberia’s beaches, rivers, marshes, woods, and other natural resources should never be sacrificed for economic growth. He referred to the two achievements as a major investment in the future of the nation. Boakai added that by providing the EPA with a permanent institutional home equipped with modern offices, conference rooms, and a research lab, the new headquarters will significantly improve Liberia’s capacity to monitor and enforce environmental laws.
“This represents Liberia’s commitment to stronger governance, responsible development, scientific research, and the protection of the health and well-being of our people,” President Boakai declared.
The President revealed that the 1.8-acre land was purchased by the government for about US$800,000, including taxes and fees, which is significantly less than its estimated market worth. According to him, the purchase reduces ongoing government spending into a long-term national asset and puts a stop to years of rent payments. Boakai commended EPA Executive Director, Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo and his staff for securing a permanent home for the agency, calling the purchase an example of responsible public financial management.
“For this achievement, we appreciate Dr. Urey Yarkpawolo and the EPA Team. Institutions such as the EPA must be hosted in permanent facilities,” the President said.
The commissioning of a €100,000 Elemental Analyzer donated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) after a competitive process was one of the event’s main highlights. Also, the modern laboratory equipment will now enable Liberia to conduct sophisticated analyses of soil, water, sediments, plants, and other environmental samples within the country, eliminating the need to send samples abroad for testing, a practice that has long delayed scientific research and regulatory decisions.
President Boakai pointed out that Liberia’s environmental management had been delayed for years by the country’s expensive reliance on foreign labs and its limited laboratory capacity. He maintained that the new analyzer will expand study on soil fertility, water quality, pollution, mangrove ecosystems, and climate resilience, promote scientific research, support academic institutions, farmers, and health professionals, and improve environmental compliance and enforcement.
Additionally, he praised the EPA’s developing collaborations with international development partners, the University of Liberia, and Manchester Metropolitan University, calling them crucial to strengthening Liberia’s scientific capabilities and environmental conservation initiatives. The President emphasized that the facility must function in accordance with globally accepted standards while promoting research, innovation, education, and evidence-based policymaking. He asked EPA authorities to maintain both the headquarters and the laboratory appropriately.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, Boakai emphasized that environmental protection and economic growth must go hand in hand. “Environmental protection is not an obstacle to development; it is the foundation and guardrail for development, ensuring it is responsible, inclusive, resilient, and lasting,” he said.
The commitment, which represents one of the largest institutional innovations for Liberia’s environmental sector in recent years, enables the country to independently conduct critical environmental testing, strengthen regulatory oversight, safeguard public health, and conserve its natural resources using state-of-the-art scientific data.
