Weah assures more infrastructure development

By: Emmanuel wise Jipoh

President George Manneh Weah, on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, reassures more infrastructure development for Liberia.

Mr. Weah made the comment during a brief remark at the ongoing PHP Recreational Sports Park construction in Central Monrovia as part of inspections of road and other infrastructure development projects being carry-out by the Government of Liberia.

The President, accompanied by visiting World Bank Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, along with arrays of Government officials including Public Works Minister Ruth-Coker -Collins, Finance Development and Planning Minister, Samuel D.Tweah Jr., Minister of Mines and Energy Gesler Murray, and Minister of State without Portfolio, Trokon A. Kpui, inspected the 6.1 Kilometers ELWA Junction – Cocoa Cola Factory Corridor Road as well as tour of the newly Constructed Invincible Sports Park, and the ongoing construction of the PHP Recreational Sports Park.

Mr. Weah told visiting World Bank Officials during the tour that he’s pleased with ongoing developments being undertaken by his administration describing them as important projects in the country.

He noted that these ongoing developments will swiftly speak of his government’s commitments to infrastructure development and improving the livelihood of Liberians.

Mr. Weah said the construction of key roads in the country, the PHP Recreational Sports Park, the Invincible Sports Park, among others are aimed at giving the oldest West African Country a beautiful facelift, like other countries, while at the same time, expressing optimism, of completing them.

The President also reaffirmed his government’s commitment, to keeping its promises to transform the country, with evidence of road connectivity carried out, but said this can not be done without the support of international partners, thereby acknowledging the World Bank for its continuous support toward Liberia’s developmental goals.

For her part, Public Works Minister Ruth Coker Collins assured the Liberian leader that her Ministry will work to ensure that the roads and other infrastructure projects are completed on time. She praised the World Bank for its cooperation and support for these projects.

The 6.1 km road linking S.D. Cooper Road to Coca-Cola Factory Road, including ELWA and Red-Light Junctions, is being funded by the World Bank through Liberia Road Asset Management Project (LIBRAMP), the road project is being executed by the Ministry of Public Works, through the China Chongqing International Construction Corporation known as CICO.

The Project’s groundbreaking took place in early 2018, When President George Weah, ascendent to office, took few months before construction work could commence later in February 2019, nearly four years ago. The road construction is yet to be completed.

Public Works Minister Ruth Coker-Collins, in July 2022, told Journalists that the Coca-Cola Factory to ELWA corridor project was delayed due to serious challenges, pointing at Marketers refusing to leave the Commercial hub of Redlight and settle for the 14- Gobachop Market.

 “That road will be completed in December instead of this July as we projected and that has to do with the challenges we are facing with the marketers. They do not want to leave the red-light market, but the state security shall handle that,” Coker-Collins said at the time.

But up to date, the road is yet to be completed, something that is posing difficulties for commuters, moving from ELWA to Mount Barclay amidst huge traffic congestion at Redlight.

The project was long negotiated by the Sirleaf administration to bring relief to drivers and commuters in the wake of extremely unbearable traffic congestion experienced by people moving to and fro the routes.

World Bank Regional Vice President for Western and Central Africa, Ousmane Diagana, arrived in Liberia, late evening, February 14, 2023, on a two-day official visit as part of his tour of West and Central Africa.

Being his maiden trip to Liberia since assuming his current position in July 2020, Mr. Diagana, also held high-level talks on a wide range of development issues with President George Weah, at the ground of the Executive Mansion.