By T. Lula Jaurey

IPNews-Monrovia,Liberia-31 May 2018: President George Manneh Weah has dedicated phase one of the Somalia Drive Road, which leads the commercial district of red light in Paynesville to the Freeport of Monrovia.

President Weah during the dedication acknowledged Liberia’s gratitude to the people of Japan for its immense contribution to the country’s reconstruction drive, adding the friendship between Liberia and Japan shall forever be a lasting one.

Speaking Wednesday during the road dedication ceremony, President Weah said Japan is truly a partner in progress to the growth and infrastructure development of Liberia.

The Liberian leader emphasized the importance of the newly constructed road in reducing traffic congestion and so much anticipated relief to commuters along the Garnesville who usually stay in huge traffic for hours to reach their various destinations.

President George reechoed that Liberia, under his government will remain engaged with Japan and other development partners to ensure Liberia’s rapid transformation.

The Liberia leader maintained that road pavements, rehabilitation and reconstruction will be the order of the day under his administration.

President Weah said phase II of the project which he has already broken ground for will cost US$45m.

Speaking earlier, Japanese Ambassador to Liberia Tsutomu Himeno promised his country’s continuous relationship with Liberia in the area of meaningful development.

Amb. Himeno said the completed phase I of the Somalia Drive road is part of Japan’s vision to aiding Liberia development, stressing the need for strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

For his part, Public Work Minister Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan described the dedication by President Weah as a significant achievement in the collective quest to rehabilitate, pave and reconstruct roads in the country.

Mr. Nyenpan said the MPW technical inspection of the work clearly shows that the work is standard, and disclosed that all requirement works have been completed for phase II of the project.

The Government of Liberia and Japan signed a US$50m grant agreement in 2013 for the reconstruction of 13.2KM urban road and the construction of two bridges on the Somalia Drive road corridor, having considered the significant impact of the road to end users, both governments saw the need for the expansion of the road from existing two lanes to four lanes.

It may be recall the Somalia drive road project was brokered by former Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during a visit to the Japanese Capital Tokyo with her Japanese counterpart Abe Shinzō, the 57th Prime Minister of Japan and Leader of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)