Ellen breaks grounds for Gbarnga-Salayea Highway

In continuation of her developmental initiatives throughout the country, President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf breaks grounds here for the upgrading of the Gbarnga-Salayea highway project in Gbarnga, Bong County, Central Liberia.

The less than two hours ceremony was witnessed by members of the cabinet and the Legislature, civil society actors, buth the conspicuous absence of Vice President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Standard Bearer of the governing Unity Party.

The Gbarnga-Salayea Highway is an eighty-one (81)-kilometer road that is expected to be constructed by a Chinese construction company, CHICO, which initially constructed the road linking Gbarnga and Ganta to the Guinean border.

Giving an overview of the project, the Minster of Public Works, W. Gyude Moore, explains that the project is part of government’s commitment to improving the living conditions of citizens across the Country through the provision of roads connectivity.

Minister Moore narrates that effort of the Legislature to approve the agreement was in line with government’s resolve to have the all-weather asphalted road of an approximate length of 81 kilometers and width of 75 meters, between Gbarnga and Salayea, to enhance the economic and social development of the central region, and at the same time, link Liberia with neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Cost for the full completion of the project is estimated at US$17m. Minister Moore describes his days at the Ministry of Public Works as successful and commends President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for reposing confidence in him to serve the ministry.

The Gbarnga-Salayea road will enable residents of Lofa and Gbarpolu counties to have access to goods and services. Some residents, who witnessed the grounds breaking ceremony, were in joyous mood as the President confidently steps out and thrusts the shovel in the brown earth and throws out the dirt.

President Sirleaf pledges her commitment to working for the Liberian people up to her last day at the Executive Mansion, official home of the Liberian Presidency. Madam Sirleaf officially leaves office in January 2018.

By Joseph Titus Yekeryan in Gbarnga-Editing by Jonathan Browne