A US$15 million bridge project between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire is expected to promote integration and trade, not only between the two countries but also between countries within the entire ECOWAS bloc and beyond.
The project is an initiative of the ECOWAS Commission, funded by the African Development Bank. By all accounts, it is a people-centered project that would see greater cooperation, collaboration, and intermarriages between citizens of both countries.
Liberia, which faces challenges of road connectivity, is expected to benefit from this project in many ways by boosting trade between the two countries and peoples. The Peoples of Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire share tribal, cultural, and economic ties that are expected to grow to another level through the bridge project.
We say hats off to the ECOWAS Commission for envisioning regional integration through connectivity, which will go a long way in not just uniting West Africa but also dismantling barriers and promoting the free movement of goods and services.
Liberia should do everything to avail itself of this project. The Acting Director of Transport of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Chris Appiah, discloses that the Government of Liberia has yet to send engineers to collaborate with their counterparts from Côte d’Ivoire in supervising the project.
It is very important that we as a country do not seem to be lagging behind in such a historic project that stands to benefit generations unborn. With the free movement of people, goods, and services, regional economic activities will increase in the entire ECOWAS region, which has been a long-time dream.
President Joseph Boakai should see this bridge project with the Ivory Coast as an excellent opportunity to initiate plans for more collaborative programs between Liberia and her French-speaking neighbor.
It also means the Ministry of Public Works should put aside all prevailing internal wrangling and focus on service to the people, particularly the bridge project with Côte d’Ivoire, as it serves a common purpose.
Already, the official start of the project has been set for November, with completion expected in two years. A Chinese road construction company, SHAANXI Construction Engineering Corporation LTD, has been selected for the work. Why should Liberia be dragging its feet? It is difficult to comprehend why!
The Government of Liberia should act now to rally behind ECOWAS and see this milestone project kick off in the interest of current and future generations. We salute ECOWAS and all those behind this dream of promoting regional integration and cross-border trade.
