By Lewis S. Teh
President George Manneh Weah and the visiting World Bank Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Mr. Ousmane Diagana, have begun inspecting World Bank-funded projects across Liberia, starting with the Red-light Road project in Paynesville.
Mr. Weah and Mr. Diagana early Wednesday Morning, 15 February 2023 led an array of government officials and the World Bank Team on the inspection exercise.
The World Bank-funded Road projects include a 6.1-kilometer road linking S.D. Cooper Road to the Coca-Cola Factory Road in Paynesville, and the ELWA and Red-light Junction.
Mr. Diagana arrived in the country on Tuesday, 14 February on a two-day official visit as part of his official tour of West and Central Africa.
This is Mr. Diagana’s first trip to the country since assuming his current position in July 2020.
Addressing journalists at the inspection site Wednesday, Liberian Public Works Minister Ruth Coker Collins said the inspection exercise was President Weah’s way of making sure that the government’s plans are actualized.
She said the visit by President Weah and the World Bank Country Team was meant to carry out an inspection of the work that is being done and to tap into other opportunities that will come along.
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According to her, there are plans by the Ministry and the contractors to end the Red-light corridor in May this year.
The Public Works Minister added that she is certain that the government will conclude the project in May or latest, July.
“I want to appreciate the president for reposing confidence in [a] female like me to lead the Public Works Ministry,” said Minister Coker Collins.
She has vowed to work tirelessly to make sure that every road infrastructure work that is ongoing is completed.
At the same time, Minister Collins said the ministry is concluding the conversation on the road leading from Toes Town to Zwedru.
She said she is very optimistic that the visit by President Weah and Mr. Diagana will give the government a clear picture of what will happen next.
Minister Coker Collins announced that a full pavement of roads has begun in Lofa County.
“For the Lofa road, we are pushing hard to have that section completed this year, and we are having a good conversation with our financiers to make sure we get all the support,” she disclosed.
The Public Works Minister dispelled rumors that contractors working on the Ganta to Saclepea road have abandoned their work.
“We don’t have any information on this, but all we know is that the road work is on [the] course, and we [are] happy that this is a government … financed project,” she said.
