(Monrovia, Liberia): President George Manneh Weah has underscored the high priority of his administration to connect communities, counties and regions as linchpin of his flagship Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) program.

Delivering his third Annual Message to the National Legislature Monday, January 27, President Weah said he remains fully intone with his inaugural promise that reducing Liberia’s age-old infrastructure deficit would be a singular priority of his administration towards the elimination of poverty in the country. 

“At the inception of our Administration, we announced to you and the world that infrastructure development, with emphasis on roads connectivity, will be the principal driver of our Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity & Development (PAPD),” the President recalled. “Consistent with this commitment, our development agenda has concentrated on the pavement of517 Km of primary roads, the pavement of community roads, the pavement of streets within County capitals, and the connection of all counties within our Republic by paved roads.”

The Liberian leader noted it is the administration’s goal to ensure the rehabilitation and maintenance of laterite roads across Liberia, as well as the maintenance of4,200 Km of urban and secondary roads.

“Today, I am pleased to report that significant successes were recorded in the infrastructure sector of our Country over the past year,” the President declared.

He indicated that these successes in the overall national development goal hinged on the support of development financial institutions including the ECOWAS Bank for Investment & Development (EBID) with which the government signed a loan agreement US$50 million to begin the construction of the first 96 km of my flagship road project, the Coastal Corridor Highway.

The Chief Executive reported: “The first segment of the Coastal Corridor Highway extends from Grand Kru County to Sinoe County. The process of selecting a contractor is ongoing and actual construction works are expected to begin this year. “I am also pleased to inform you that funding negotiations are ongoing for the remaining segments of the Coastal Corridor Highway. We are confident that these negotiations will be fruitful.”

With assistance from the African Development Bank, the European Union, and the European Investment Bank, the President told the National Legislature that his administration commenced works for the pavement of the Sanniquellie to Loguatuo highway, which is 47 km long with the value of bringing “relief to our people, but will also enhance paved roads connectivity in the Mano River Union basin.”

He announced that the government, in close partnership with these same organizations and institutions, has secured funding to extend the pavement works from Salayea to Konia and from Konia to Voinjama.

President Weah disclosed: “An Aide Memoire has been signed with the African Development Bank for the pavement of additional road corridors between Voinjama and Mendikorma in Lofa County, as well as the road between Killepo in River Gee and Zwedru in Grand Gedeh Counties and these projects are included in the next batch for implementation.”