EPA Secures Permanent Headquarters, Modern Laboratory in US$800,000 Investment to Strengthen Environmental Governance
By: Melvin Flomo
MONROVIA, Liberia – July 13, 2026 — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of Liberia has announced the acquisition of its first permanent headquarters and a state-of-the-art environmental laboratory in a landmark US$800,000 investment that officials say will strengthen institutional capacity, improve public financial management, and advance environmental governance across the country.
EPA Executive Director Dr. Emmanuel K. Urey Yarkpawolo disclosed that the Agency purchased the property, located along Sekou Toure Avenue in Mamba Point, for US$800,000, a figure that includes taxes and administrative fees.
The newly acquired property occupies approximately 1.8 lots and houses the Agency’s headquarters, a fully equipped environmental laboratory, generator house, warehouse, parking facilities, renewable energy infrastructure, and other essential operational assets.
According to the EPA, independent valuations placed the property’s market value at no less than US$1.3 million, meaning the government secured the facility for nearly US$500,000 below its lowest appraised value a move the Agency described as a prudent use of public resources.
For more than 16 years, the EPA operated from rented office space in Sinkor at an annual cost of approximately US$72,000. Upon assuming leadership in 2024, the current administration concluded that continued expenditure on rental properties was financially unsustainable and inconsistent with long-term government asset ownership.
Following months of negotiations involving the property’s seven owners, the transaction received the necessary approvals from the EPA Board of Directors, the General Services Agency (GSA), the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, and the Ministry of Justice, paving the way for the historic acquisition.
The Agency emphasized that the purchase was financed entirely through internal savings accumulated between 2024 and 2026 by cutting administrative costs, improving operational efficiency, and enforcing stronger financial discipline, without seeking additional government appropriations.
The permanent headquarters boasts approximately 80 offices, three conference rooms, four reception areas, 24 bathrooms, a Geographic Information System (GIS) laboratory, a library, and a 60-kilowatt solar power system designed to enhance energy reliability and reduce operational costs.
The environmental laboratory also includes specialized units dedicated to radiation safety, water quality and marine research, and instrumental analysis, significantly expanding Liberia’s scientific capacity to conduct pollution monitoring, environmental assessments, water testing, and evidence-based regulatory enforcement.
EPA officials believe the investment will eliminate recurring rental expenses, safeguard public resources, and provide Liberia with a permanent national environmental institution capable of supporting environmental protection and scientific research for generations.
The Agency described the acquisition as a milestone in responsible public financial management and a strategic investment that reinforces Liberia’s commitment to environmental sustainability, scientific innovation, and long-term national development.
