Somilia Drive road construction resumes

Road construction work on the Somalia Drive in Monrovia has resumed in earnest with the return of contractors from Japan to implement the project.

The NewDawn has noticed over time movement of earth moving equipment with several local and foreign contractors basically engaged.

Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ms. Miki YAMADA, also confirmed the resumption of work when she led a high-powered delegation in a bilateral meeting with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Nairobi, Kenya.

Ms. YAMADA also informed President Sirleaf that Phase II of the Somalia Drive road project will commence in 2016 consistent with the commitment made by the Government of Japan – a dispatch said here Tuesday.

Ms. YAMADA also assured President Sirleaf that plans are on course for the reopening of Japanese Embassy near Monrovia, which will end several years of directing the affairs of Liberia’s operations from Accra, Ghana. She indicated that Japan is determined to support the Africa’s 2063 Agenda that seeks to address critical areas of need for the African continent.

Speaking during the meeting, President Sirleaf thanked the Government of Japan for its continued support to Liberia’s recovery efforts, especially in the areas of health, energy, food security, commerce and trade. She also pointed out that her government is keen on the rehabilitation of the country’s water system, which is crucial to meeting a critical need of the population.

Commenting on the Japanese grant to Liberia, President Sirleaf said her administration is committed to ensuring accountability and also thanked Japan for its vital role in adopting the sustainable development goals and supporting Climate Change efforts.

She pointed out that Liberia is about to make history owing to its long walk to finally being admitted into the WTO after seven cumbersome years of hard work and acknowledged that it is an opportunity for fairer and competitive trade interactions that will create jobs and build a strong and vibrant private sector.

The Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs was accompanied to the meeting by the Deputy Director-General of the Economic Affairs Bureau, Mr. UYAMA, Director of International Trade Division, Mr. MATANO, Director of the Second Africa Division, Mr. NAKAGAWA, Deputy Director of Mission of Japanese Embassy in Kenya, among others.