Monrovia, Liberia: President George Manneh Weah has availed himself to the infrastructural transformation of Liberia and the progress of the Liberian people, and declared that he would be the bridge that will connect the country and its people.

 

The President’s statement once again stands as an attestation of his government’s full obligation to the pavement of the roads network of the entire country, to alleviate agonizing traveling difficulties Liberians are enduring, while at the same time enhance trade and commerce.

 

“When I came to you, I stated that I will be the bridge that will connect Liberia and Liberians; and I still stand on the promise that I am the bridge between Liberia and Liberians,” President Weah pointed out.

 

He spoke Saturday July 28, 2018 at Redlight, Paynesville during the ground-breaking ceremony for the expansion and rehabilitation of the stretch of road between ELWA and Coca Cola factory.

The President also made analogy between opportunity and performance to accentuate that he has a duty to perform as President to meet needs of the Liberian people because they have given him the opportunity to prove himself worthy of their trust.

 

“You know my background as a sportsman; we have one rule that when you have an opportunity to play, you have to perform; if you don’t perform, you have to come on the bench. When you are on the bench and they bring you on the field, you have to perform,” President noted.

 

“I was on the bench and now they brought me on the field so I have to score a goal for the team to win.”

President Weah, however, bemoaned the present outlook of Redlight, a commercial hub that is a household name in Liberia that does not represent its fame. He said the situation must be changed so that Redlight becomes a true representation of its reputation as a famous commercial center in Monrovia.

 

President Weah said he would do everything within his reach to make Liberia a better place than it has been over the 171 years of existence. “This country was born before me, and I don’t want to be the problem. The international community came to Liberia before I was born and I don’t want to be the problem,” he asserted. 

 

“I will make sure that Liberians can leave from here to the interior and come back the same day. When you ask me for my platform, I will tell you my platform is to build the road network.”

The Liberian leader commended Liberia’s development partners led by the European Union and World Bank for standing with Liberia in its quest for infrastructural transformation.

 

“There are lots people who said when George Weah wins the EU, the World Bank will run away; but today they are here with us more vigorous and committed to make ensure that we achieve our goals,” he said.

 

At the same time, President Weah has mandated Public Works Minister Mabutu Nyenpan to ensure the pavement of all feeder roads in the economic zone of Monrovia. He urged him to work with the Minister of Finance and Development Planning for the execution of the mandate, so that all feeder roads are paved across Monrovia, in addition to the pavements done by the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration. 

 

He praised Minister Nyenpan for the excellent work he is doing, mainly referencing the works being done with the Doe Community road project which are nearing completion. The President also called on the Liberian media to work with the government achieve its goals, as the media is a partner of the government.

 

He said it was important the media give a true image of the country or government to the international world because it (international community) wants to know the truth. “Don’t deceive the international community,” he stressed.  

 

President Weah also called on Liberians not to allow themselves to get boiled into the politics of today, because they are more than politics. The EU and World Bank are financing the ELWA/Coca Cola road expansion and rehabilitation project at the cost of US$11 million, which is expected to be completed in two years.   

   

This is the sixth project President Weah has either broken ground for or dedicated in the sixth month of his presidency. 

 

Meanwhile, President Weah has toured the Doe Community Road Project currently ongoing to get a firsthand glimpse of progress made thus far. 

 

It is one of the signature road construction projects of his administration; a precursor to many other projects in the offing as part of the government’s Pro-Poor Development Agenda.