In the next few years, Grand Bassa County and its capital Buchanan will be at the core of the Liberian recovery. Before the war, the County enjoyed a vibrant economy. International companies such as the Liberian American Mining Company (LAMCO)/Liberian Mining Company (LIMINCO), the rubber plantation of the Liberian Agricultural Company (LAC), the palm oil plantation Liberian Incorporated (LIBINC), the logging concerns Oriental Timber Company (OTC) and National Milling Company all had operations in the County, and the harbor of Buchanan, Liberia’s second largest port, was very active.

The civil conflict had disastrous consequences on all these activities, which virtually came to a halt. All the companies were looted and vandalized, while the County infrastructure suffered extensive damage, particularly at the port and the railroad connecting Buchanan to Yekepa.

Nowadays, there are encouraging signals. Besides the Liberian Agricultural Company (LAC) rubber plantation, which is instrumental in providing thousands of jobs and basic social services in Gorblee District, some economic activity has resumed in the former LAMCO/LIMINCO concession area with Arcelor Mittal Steel erecting a fence and rehabilitating some of the staff houses in readiness for reconstruction, which will include the reinstallation of the railroad between Buchanan and Nimba and the rehabilitation of the industrial side of the port.

Irrespective these significant events, much remains to be accomplished, owing to the level of infrastructural damage. Access to health, education, water, and electricity is still a wish for many communities in urban and rural areas, making it difficult for returnees and inhabitants to reintegrate. It is within this context that the County Development Agenda of Grand Bassa County is being formulated.