Liberia, ADB Seal $40M Grant Deal

Liberia and the African Development Bank (ADB) Friday signed a grant agreement for support to Liberia’s water and sanitation sector.

The grant agreement was officially signed in the Ivorian capital, Abidjan during the annual meetings of the ADB.

Finance Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan signed for the Government of Liberia while the head of the ADB Water and Sanitation Project Ali Kies signed for the Bank.

The approximately 40 million United States Dollars agreement will cover the extension of water supply to Monrovia and three regional cities that include Zwedru, Buchanan and Kakata.

The grant will fund the rehabilitation of the White Plains Water Treatment Plant in Montserrado County, which will lead to an increase in water supply to Monrovia and its environs from the current three million gallons per day to its pre-war capacity of 16 million gallons per day.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, the Director of the ADB Water and Sanitation Unit said the project seeks to increase access to clean water to the population.

Mr. Ali Kies said the project is also in support of government’s poverty reduction strategy and will also enhance the management and operational capacity of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation.

The ABD Official said the Bank was pleased with the way the Liberian Government is implementing its funded projects in Liberia and encouraged the Government to continue in such manner. He promised the ADB’s continued support to key poverty reduction projects in Liberia.

For his part, Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan commended the ADB for its support to Liberia. Minister Ngafuan also expressed gratitude on behalf of the President and the people of Liberia to the Bank for its support to the water sector.

The Finance Minister said the support to the water sector targets one of government key poverty reduction objectives through the restoration of safe drinking water to the population.

Minister Ngafuan said government looks forward to the efficient implementation of the project so that residents in the four targeted counties can have access to safe drinking water and better sanitation.

Minister Augustine Ngafuan also commended the Bank for its support to capacity building of staff at the Ministry of Finance and other government agencies and commended the Management of the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation for its positive role in the negotiation of the Agreement and said Liberia was grateful for the project.

The formal signing of the Agreement in Abidjan follows the successful negotiation of the approximately 40 million United States dollars assistance to the water sector in March of this year in Tunis.

Minister Ngafuan headed the Government of Liberia negotiating team and was assisted in Tunis by the Managing Director of the Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation, Mr. Hun-Bu Tulay.