By Samuel Flomo, Jr.
Residents of Bopata Town in electoral district #4 in Bong County, are said to be enduring a silent crisis.
The crisis reportedly stemmed from “contaminated water fuels an outbreak of waterborne diseases.”
The Chairlady of Bopata, Mother Lingbeh Sulonteh, told reporters that the town roughly 500 residents are forced to rely on streams, ponds, and swamp water for drinking and household use sources.
Madam Sulonteh described the situation as “unsafe yet unavoidable.”
“The streams are not safe for drinking, but we have no other option. If we don’t use the swamp and stream water, we will not survive.”
She disclosed how children have been the hardest hit.
“Our children are getting sick. Adults can endure the pain, but for the children, there is no nearby clinic for medical attention.”
The town only hand pump, meant as an alternative water source, has reportedly become faulty, and frequently runs dry during the rainy season.
Residents say repeated efforts and community contributions to fix it have not yielded any fruitful result.
“We have tried to repair the hand pump, but the situation continues to worsen.
There is no internet service here to reach anyone from the city to help us,” Mother Sulonteh added.
The community also accused their Representative, Robert Womba of “abandoning them entirely.”
“He has neglected us. He doesn’t even know we exist. We regret voting for him a second time,” residents said while reflecting the growing frustration with local leadership.
Infrastructure challenges further isolate Bopata.
The farm-to-market road, vital for transporting crops, is in a devastating state, effectively crippling local livelihoods.
“Our roads have become very bad. There is no way to carry our crops to the market,” Mother Sulonteh said, with her frustration being evident.
Humanitarian organizations and county authorities, have yet to intervene, leaving residents exposed to worsening health hazards.
The Bopata situation is emblematic of a broader governance failure, where rural communities are left to fend for themselves while political leaders remain indifferent.
For Bopata, and communities like it in the county, urgent government action is critical to prevent further suffering, disease, and potential loss of life; a responsibility that critics say the current administration has to uphold.