Liberia: Speaker Koon Donates Bus to J.J. Dossen Hospital in Harper City, Maryland County

Harper, Maryland County — House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon has donated a bus to the J.J. Dossen Memorial Referral Hospital in Harper City, Maryland County, fulfilling a commitment he made during a visit to the hospital in December 2025.

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By Peter P. Toe, Jr

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The donation was made over the weekend at the hospital’s facility in Harper during a ceremony attended by health practitioners, local authorities, traditional leaders and other stakeholders.

Making the presentation, Speaker Koon said the donation was in fulfillment of a promise he made during his December 2025 visit, when hospital authorities raised several concerns about the institution’s needs.

Among the concerns raised were the need for additional space to expand hospital facilities, the placement of long-serving volunteer nurses on the government payroll, and transportation for health workers.

Then County Health Officer, Dr. Siedoh Freeman, described the requests as urgent needs for the J.J. Dossen Referral Hospital.

In response, Speaker Koon promised to provide a bus to address the transportation challenge, while committing to take the other concerns to the House of Representatives for consideration and possible budgetary allocation.

Clarifying the condition of the vehicle during the presentation, Speaker Koon said the bus was not new but urged the hospital to properly maintain it.

“Let me clarify this. This bus is not a brand-new bus; it is a fairly used bus. The more you take good care of it, the longer it will last,” the Speaker said

Receiving the bus on behalf of the county’s health sector, Maryland County Health Officer Dr. Methodius George praised Speaker Koon for fulfilling his commitment.

Dr. George said the vehicle would not only serve the J.J. Dossen Hospital but would benefit the wider county health team.

“This bus is not only for J.J. Dossen. It will be used by the Maryland County Health Team, the Pleebo Health Center and other health facilities in the county,” Dr. George said.

He called on other lawmakers to support the county’s health sector by undertaking similar initiatives.

Also speaking, Medical Director of the J.J. Dossen Memorial Referral Hospital, Dr. Shadrach Gono, thanked Speaker Koon for the donation and assured that the bus would be used for its intended purpose.

Dr. Gono said the vehicle would help address transportation needs associated with the hospital’s operations and health workers.

Maryland County Superintendent Nathaniel S. Toe, Jr. also praised Speaker Koon and the government for what he described as developments taking place across the county.

Superintendent Toe said the bus is an important addition to the J.J. Dossen Hospital, while pointing to several other projects and initiatives in Maryland County.

He referenced the provision of “yellow machines” under the Presidential Development Project, the groundbreaking for the Ministry of Transport’s regional hub in Maryland County, and other ongoing projects.

Superintendent Toe described the bus as “one of the good things that has ever entered” the J.J. Dossen Hospital. The cost of the bus was not disclosed during the donation ceremony.

Frontpage Africa subsequently followed up with the Speaker’s office to establish the actual cost of the vehicle. Sources within Speaker Koon’s media team said the bus was given to the Speaker as a gift by a friend, and as a result, its monetary value is not known.

Following the donation, the bus has been put into use and is currently being used by health workers in Maryland County. The donation is expected to provide transportation support for health workers and facilitate movement for health workers in Maryland County.