PRESIDENT GEORGE MANNEH WEAH HAS ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN 470km ROAD THROUGHFARES; HE IS SET TO GIVE PROGRESS REPORT NEXT MONDAY JANUARY 30TH, 2023; AS GOVERNMENT OF LIBERIA DISBURSES OVER US$40 MILLION IN 2023
IPNEWS: In his 2022 5th State of the Nation Address to the joint chambers of the Legislature, President George Manneh Weah told members of both houses, that his government’s focus and determination to significantly impact the infrastructure landscape of Liberia, remained a prime priority.
President Weah stated that despite the continuing challenges of the sector, due to the negative effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on Liberia’s economy, the Government had made great strides to deliver on its commitment to the people of Liberia for the pavement of primary and community roads, the pavement and maintenance of streets within county capitals, and the connection of all counties by paved roads.
The Liberian leader also noted that road connectivity remained an important priority of his administration to ensure the full accessibility of the entire country through the maintenance and rehabilitation of the existing 4,200 kilometers of urban and secondary roads across our country.
“By improving road connectivity throughout the country, basic economic activity will increase due to the free movement of goods and services. This will lessen the economic burden of our people who are facing the daily travel challenges of not being able to move freely within and around Liberia due to bad roads,” President Weah told legislators.
Touching on primary roads construction projects, President George Weah told members of the Legislature that road construction works have already begun on the Ganta to Saclepea Road Corridor; the Saclepea to Tappitta Road Corridor; the Fish Town to Gbaken Kanweaken Road Corridor in River Gee County; including other flagship road projects such as the iconic Roberts International Highway Road Project.
The Liberian leader noted that when completed, the total road projects begun since the inception of his Administration will total approximately 470 kilometers, representing 90 percent of the 517 kilometers the George Weah government would establish as a ‘National Target’ within the last five years.
It is recalled, President George Weah in 2021 ‘Annual Message’, told members of that August body that the roads currently under construction would be built before the 2023 elections.
Weah: “Today, I can proudly announce that work has already commenced on all of them, and they are in various stages of completion.”
Furthermore, President Weah told the Legislature that in addition to the major road corridors, his government has already begun negotiations with international partners and respective institutions for the construction of the following road projects:
The Tappitta to Toe’s Town road corridor; the Salayea to Konia road corridor are being negotiated with our Arab partners, the Barclayville to Klone road corridor is being negotiated with the ECOWAS Bank, and the Medina to Robertsport road corridor. When completed, these roads will not only meet but exceed the target that we set for ourselves four years ago.
In addition to these achievements, arrangements are being made with the African Development Bank for the detailed design and tendering of an additional 110 kilometers of roads that will see the completion of the link from Harper, Maryland County through River Gee, to Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, that will address the massive road challenges being experienced by Liberians mainly in rural areas such as the South East.
Already pavement of the road from Harper to Fishtown has been completed, and the Fish Town to Gbaken Kanweaken section of this corridor is nearing completion.
“We wish to assure you that during my Annual Message in 2023, I will be able to report that significant progress has been made on each of these road projects.”
Recently, President George Weah reminded Liberians upon his return from the U.S. Africa Summit, that his vision for the socio-economic well-being of Liberia remains on track in spite of much turbulence.
The Liberian Chief Executive admitted unbearable challenges during the early days of his administration, however, his government has emerged stronger and is now on course to fulfill one of his major development agendas: the construction of roads.
“Surely, we faced some major challenges in the last four years, but as a Government and as a people, we have emerged stronger,” President Weah disclosed. “The challenges may have tried to derail and distract us, but they did not prevent us from continuing the work of national development.”
“And we were further challenged by the opportunity that you have given us to address and eventually solve them but, four years on, we continue to protect the peace and security of our people, to build more roads, transform electricity, build new hospitals and improve the quality of care, transform the challenging situation in education, build more markets for our market women around the country, and work toward improving governance and accountability for public resources,” he said.
From Challenge to Triumph
The President’s stunning admission of his early struggles comes as the 2023 election edges on the horizon and, with economic growth projected at 4 percent, is an attempt to remind Liberians of his ability to solve Liberia’s problems as promised if given more time.
It is a messaging strategy that parallels the way he talks about his struggles while growing up poor before going on to conquer the world as a footballer.
That message was the central theme of his 2017 presidential campaign and resonates well with his power base now. By admitting his early struggles as President while boasting of his administration’s success, he’s reminding Liberians, as he did five years ago, that he has what it takes to revitalize the economy by creating jobs, expanding infrastructure development, and moving the country toward prosperity.
And while he appears to have learned from his mistakes and taken steps toward economic reforms, adhering to IMF recommendations, the President’s speech sought to argue that he has kept his word as promised, particularly on the infrastructure front.
The speech also aimed to convince Liberians that the benefits of his government far outweigh the downsides. It’s a message he is likely to repeat many times before 2023 when voters will decide whether they want to continue those policies for another six years.
While these policies have yielded uneven results, President Weah was quick to highlight the efforts he is making to impact the country’s infrastructural landscape significantly.
