By By: Domingo Dargbeh;
Monrovia, Liberia – In a bid to ease the transportation burden on its employees, the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo, has handed over three vehicles and seven motorcycles to the agency’s staff.
The ceremony, held at the EPA’s Mama Point headquarters in Monrovia, saw the official turnover of two brand-new buses for employees, a Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Team, a Toyota Prado Jeep for the Deputy Director, and an additional Toyota Land Cruiser Jeep, which is still pending delivery.
“These efforts are in line with the mandate of the ARREST-Agenda for Inclusive Development under the leadership of His Excellency, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.,” Dr. Yarkpawolo stated.
Speaking at the handover event on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, Dr. Yarkpawolo emphasized that the move was in response to persistent concerns from employees regarding the lack of an effective transportation system. Many staff members had struggled with commuting due to their limited salaries.
“The prices of all these vehicles comply with government-regulated standards, meeting both the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) requirements and the General Services Agency (GSA) asset guidelines. We also have full purchase contracts that include maintenance,” he added.
Dr. Yarkpawolo also expressed gratitude to the LIFT Project, led by Minister of Commerce and Industry, Madam Madalene Dagoseh, for donating five Yamaha motorcycles to support the EPA’s inspectorate department. Additionally, he acknowledged the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for donating two Yamaha motorcycles, which will be assigned to River Gee and Grand Kru counties as part of efforts to establish fully functional EPA offices in those areas.
“I am happy to announce that we have developed a comprehensive transport policy to guide the use of these vehicles. This policy covers insurance, bus riding regulations, motorcycle safety, and the use of assigned vehicles. We encourage all employees to adhere to these rules. The policy, along with other regulations, will be uploaded to the EPA website for easy access,” he noted.
Meanwhile, Dr. Yarkpawolo announced the construction of a $100,000 state-of-the-art laboratory, which will enhance the EPA’s ability to conduct world-class environmental data analysis, improving the agency’s overall efficiency and effectiveness.
