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ADNews,Bong County Liberia: Former District #5 Representative and defeated senatorial candidate, Edward W. Karfiah, is facing mounting criticism from several residents in Bong County over what they describe as the failure of his 2023 orange seedling distribution project.
By Jangar Boimah Johnson
Karfiah, who contested the 2023 senatorial election but lost to, launched what he termed the “Triple R” initiative, an acronym for Rebuild, Reform, and Restore. As part of the initiative, he distributed orange seedlings to residents across parts of the county, encouraging them to plant the crops as a long-term income-generating venture.
At the time, many citizens welcomed the initiative, describing it as a promising effort to support agriculture and empower local farmers. However, nearly two years later, some beneficiaries say the project has yielded disappointing results.
Several residents allege that the seedlings distributed during the heat of the 2023 presidential and legislative elections failed to survive after planting.
Alison Yah, one of the beneficiaries, expressed frustration over the outcome. According to him, none of the seedlings he planted survived.
“I am very disappointed in Rep. Karfiah for giving us orange seedlings that did not grow,” Yah said. “Since 2023, not a single one I planted survived. I even bought additional seedlings, believing they would grow, but everything died. I paid people to brush the land and prepare the area, but it was all a waste of time and money.”
Yah further alleged that the initiative appeared to be politically motivated rather than a sustainable agricultural intervention.
Another resident of Suakoko District, Zinneh Yarkpawolo, shared similar concerns. He claimed that he planted more than 20 seedlings received during the 2023 campaign season, but none survived.
“Whenever I talk about this orange seedling project, I feel like shedding tears,” Yarkpawolo said. “We appreciated the idea and thought it would benefit us in the future. I spent money clearing my land and planted the seedlings in 2023, but up to now, not one has survived.”
The exact cause of the seedlings’ failure remains unclear, and there has been no official explanation regarding whether the losses were due to poor quality seedlings, improper handling, environmental factors, or inadequate follow-up support.
As Karfiah reportedly considers another bid for the senatorial seat in 2029, some residents say the outcome of the orange seedling project could influence public perception of his future political ambitions.
Efforts to reach Karfiah for comment were unsuccessful as of press time.
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