Monrovia, Liberia – Mamie Kollie, a mother of four children and a victim of the Liberia Water and Sewer Cooperation demolition exercise, has struggled since her two-bedroom home was demolished. On March 14, 2025, the Liberia Water and Sewage Corporation (LSWC) demolished homes and properties for constructing and building houses on the pipeline and waterway and the alley drive in the Old Mansion Community behind the Liberia National Fire Service, corner of Ashmun and Gurley streets.
The occupants of the properties are children and families of retired/former Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) personnel, who have been living within the vicinity for over fifty (50) years. The retired AFL personnels, most of whom are dead served the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL); at which time the Government of Liberia designated the vicinity to them to be used for shelter considering the proximity to the Executive Mansion.
During a Wednesday, July 23, 2025, interview on the property, Madam Kollie stated that the LWSC had destroyed their properties considering they were located near the Institution’s waterways and alleys. She said, the house was built by her late father-in-law, an armed personnel, and added that she and her late husband lived there until his death a few years ago.
“So, my son this place was build by my father-in-law who was in the AFL. Now, he is not here. My husband and myself was here and we born our children here before he died. Now, they came and demolished our homes. We have nowhere to go.”
However, in a recent formal letter signed by sixteen family heads and delivered to the LWSC, the inhabitants expressed their dismay and displeasure over the destruction while identifying themselves as the children and relatives of retired or former Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) soldiers.
They claimed, they have lived in the area for more than fifty (50) years, during which time their parents served in the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). Due to the area’s close proximity to the Executive Mansion, the government of Liberia then designated the area for use as housing and lodging by AFL personnel.
They maintained that their neighborhoods were not alleys, pointing out that they had always lived nearby and adding that the government had never informed the locals that they were living in an alley. They added that their parents proudly and honorably served in the Liberian Armed Forces, protecting lives, property, and borders of the Republic of Liberia while also providing security for the country’s leadership.
Our parents built homes in this vicinity during which time the current building that hosts the General Auditing Commission (GAC) was used as the Executive Mansion and next to it is the Executive Pavillion. “Our parents lived there with their families when our parents served the United Nation backed peacekeeping mission in the Republic Congo between 1960 to 1962” they conclude.
Reported by: Prince Saah
