Greenville, Sinoe County – Work has officially commenced on the Greenville Sea Revetment Project, a landmark coastal defense initiative designed to protect the city from the devastating effects of Atlantic Ocean erosion.
The project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the Government of Liberia through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with technical support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), seeks to strengthen community resilience against climate change and environmental hazards.
Community Participation and Benefits
During a field visit on Thursday, September 4, 2025, EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel Urey Yarkpawolo and UNDP Deputy Country Representative Louis Kuukpen toured affected areas including Seebeh, Bannah, and Downtown Greenville.
Authorities confirmed that 44 locals will be recruited to work on the project, with 50% of the workforce drawn from Bannah Community, 25% from Seebeh and Downtown Greenville, and the remaining 25% from other coastal counties.
The rocks being used for the revetment are mined from Bannah Community, which has received US$25,000 as compensation for its resources.
EPA Commends Communities
Dr. Yarkpawolo praised residents for their cooperation and urged them to view the project as a collective mission to safeguard Greenville.
“You have been very supportive, and we say thank you. Rocks are already being crushed and transported to erosion sites. This project is about saving Greenville, not just creating jobs,” he told residents.
Explaining the broader causes of coastal erosion, Dr. Yarkpawolo pointed to industrial pollution from wealthier nations as a major driver of climate change.
“As ice melts in the North and South Poles, ocean levels rise, increasing erosion. Poor countries like Liberia are left most vulnerable,” he said.
UNDP Reaffirms Support
UNDP’s Louis Kuukpen said the agency’s involvement reflects its commitment to protecting vulnerable communities.
“This project is made possible by the Global Environment Facility and UNDP because we want to protect coastal communities from sea erosion. We thank you for your cooperation and encourage you to continue supporting the work,” he told residents.
Kuukpen disclosed that the Greenville Sea Revetment Project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Technical Details
According to Princess Blango-Doyah, EPA’s Project Manager for the Sinoe Coastal Project, vendors have been hired to crush and haul rocks, while engineering firms are finalizing designs. Actual construction is set to begin in October 2025.
Chief Technical Advisor Engineer Anthony Nimely Chea Jr. revealed that the revetment will span 1.5 kilometers — including 800 meters in Downtown Mississippi, Greenville, and 700 meters in Seebeh Community.
An additional five wave-deflecting structures will be built near Downtown Mississippi to reduce pressure on the shoreline.
He added that, with proper maintenance, the sea defense structure could last between 25 and 50 years.
A Wall of Hope
For communities living under constant threat from the encroaching sea, the Greenville Revetment Project represents more than just a construction effort — it is a lifeline.
With international support, government leadership, and local participation, Greenville is taking its boldest step yet to withstand the destructive waves of the Atlantic.
Trokon S. Wrepue is a Liberian journalist with 9 years of experience in the practice of journalism. Over the years, Trokon has reported on women and children issues, investigated public and private sectors corruption, environmental challenges and other critical human interest stories. He is currently the Editor of News for OK FM, one of Liberia’s premier media institutions in Monrovia. Besides being a journalist, Trokon is also a Mandela Washington Fellow. In 2022, he travelled to California in the US where he studied leadership, culture and diversities at the California State University. In 2023, he travelled to Johannesburg in South Africa and attended the Mandela Washington Fellowship Symposium of Young African Leaders.
