Gov’t delegation departs for Japan, others

Several Government officials including Minister of State Nathaniel F. McGill, Justice Minister Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, Public Works Minister Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan and Finance, Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah are expected to depart the country on Tuesday March 27, 2018 for Japan and other countries to lobby for a US 500 million loan to fund a coastal road project here.

Liberia’s Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, McGill, who heads the delegation, told this paper over the weekend that the high power delegation to Japan, and other unnamed friendly nations and international organizations will lobby to seek means of borrowing US$500 million for the commencement of the coastal road project during the next fiscal period.

President George Weah on January 28 promised that his administration would construct a coastal highway that will run from Buchanan to Harper, which will eventually end the isolation of 6 south-eastern counties here, a condition that has existed since the formation of the country.

“The is a medium-term project which will take several years to complete, but it is the intention of my government to prioritize the planning and raising of funding for this important development goal, which has been estimated to cost approximately three billion dollars. This is going to be very challenging, but I am convinced that, with the assistance of friendly governments and institutions, this can be achieved before the end of my tenure,” President Weah said.

Minister McGill said the departure of the high level delegation to seek funding for the project shows how committed the George Weah led government his towards this project.

The coastal road project will commence from Buchanan, Grand Bassa to Cestos City, River Cess, Sinoe, Greenville, Sass Town, and Barclayville, Grand Kru and Harper, Maryland Counties. Mr. McGill insists that the government plans to commence the project during the early parts of the pending fiscal calendar.

The former CDC’s chairman pointed out that there are good indications from friendly nations and multi international funding groups to provide financial assistance to the Weah’s administration.

“Our administration is destined for greater achievements; we are not concerned about those who want to criticize blindly. Our dream is to move the developmental agenda faster,” Mr. McGill said adding, “As far as President Weah is concerned, he wants to create avenues that will help to reduce the high percentage of unemployment rate here especially, among the youthful generation.”

He concluded saying, the CDC government’s immediate strategy for reducing poverty, increasing youth empowerment through job creation and training, and improving the productivity of the economy, is to embark upon a comprehensive road and highway construction program that will link all county capitals with all-weather paved primary roads.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor-edited by Othello B. Garblah