By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor in Monrovia
The Weah administration targets roads as priority, and the government is going all out to achieve its road program. The coastal road network is trending. That is why the Liberian Government is sending a high power delegation to Japan and elsewhere to lobby that foreign government $500,000,000 for road construction project.
Stat Minister Nathaniel McGill told our Correspondent in Monrovia over the weekend that the Liberian government will on March 27th, send a high power delegation to Japan, friendly nations and international organizations globally to lobby and borrow US$500 million for the commencement for the coastal road project.
Minister McGill heads the lobbying delegation. He said the quest of the government to raise the needed funds for the commencement for the coastal road project is high.
He intimated that the coastal road project is expected to commence from Buchanan, Grand Bassa to Cestos City, River Cess, and continuing to Greenville, Sinoe; Sass Town, and Barclayville, Grand Kru and Harper, Maryland Counties.
According to him, the plan of the government is to commence the project during the early parts of the pending fiscal calendar.
He said that other ministers making the delegation include Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean, Public Works Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan and Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah, and the team is expected to be out of the country one or two weeks.
The former CDC’s chairman pointed out that the there are good indications from friendly nations and multi international funding groups to provide financial assistance to the Weah’s administration.
“Our administration is destined for greater achievements; we are not concerned about those who want to criticize blindly, our dream is to move the developmental agenda faster. As far as President Weah is concerned is creating avenues that help to reduce the high percentage of unemployment rate here especially, among the young generation,” Minister McGill said.
On January 28, President Weah promised to build roads to the highest international standards, and link paved secondary farm-to market roads that will enhance agriculture, trade, and tourism in Liberia.
President Weah said particular priority would be given to a coastal highway that will run from Buchanan to Harper, which will eventually end the complete isolation of south-eastern Liberia, a condition that has existed since the formation of this country.
“The is a medium-term project which will take several years to complete, but it is the intention of my government to prioritize the planning and raising of funding for this important development goal, which has been estimated to cost approximately three billion dollars. This is going to be very challenging, but I am convinced that, with the assistance of friendly governments and institutions, this can be achieved before the end of my tenure,” President Weah said.
Minister McGill said that the immediate strategy for reducing poverty, increasing youth empowerment through job creation and training, and improving the productivity of the economy, is to embark upon a comprehensive road and highway construction program that will link all county capitals with all-weather paved primary roads.
