By Bill W. Cooper
Public Works Minister, Roland L. Giddings has sharply reacted to clams made by the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government of constructing more roads across the country than all previous governments combined.
In one of his interviews in 2023, former Finance Minister Samuel Tweah boldly claimed that his CDC-led government paved about 600 kilometers of roads in six years; something he described as unprecedented.
He asserted, “Weah is a development giant and the evidence is the fact that his movement has paved more roads than all of the previous governments combined. This President, in six years has paved about 600 kilometers of roads and yet people saying he has done nothing; sad!”
In reaction to CDCians’ clam, Minister Giddings described the assertion as a “big black lie” and disclosed that the CDC government only paved 406kilometers of roads as suppose to the Ellen’s administration that constructed more than 643 kilometers of roads across the country.
He asserted, “Why should the former Minister chose to lie when in fact his government left more of the roads undone and it is this government that is about to do them. But again, that is why we are here to correct all of the wrongs and lies.”
Commenting on President Joseph Boakai’s 100 days ‘no car stuck in the mud theory,’ Giddings revealed explained that said project is ongoing and well course on, pointing out that enhancing pliability is crucial towards Liberia’s road development and transport facilitation programs.
Addressing the Ministry of Information press briefing over the weekend, the Public Works Minister also narrated that periodic road maintenance works are taking place on various road corridors as promised by President Boakai.
He explained that the availability of funding one-12 of said constructions has expedited the mobilization of contractors along different corridors ranging from the Salayea to Voinjama to Mendicorma, Tappitta to Zwedru and Zwedru to Putuken.
Others are Brewerville to Bopolu as corridors where works are currently taking place, Buchanan to Saturday Town, Cestos to ITI, Nyenfueh Town to Greenville, and Pleebo to Barclayville amongst others.
Giddings also provided updates on various primary roads construction which he said, the 37km Ganta to Sanniquellie Road is completed with dedication slated for July of this year while negotiations are ongoing with Arcellor Mittal for pavement of the 30km Sanniquellie to Yekepa Road.
“39km Ganta-Saclepea Road which is the Southeastern Corridor Road Asset Management Project (SECRAMP) 1 has an asphalt pavement rating of approximately 40km, but is momentarily stopped due to cash flow issue.
The project is funded by the government and the Southeastern Corridor Road Asset Management Project (SECRAMP) 2, Saclepea to Tappitta is a 61km stretch of road funded by the World Bank, and has a completion rating of 25%. It is expected to be completed by 2025,” he said.
According to him, funding has been secured for the 100km Tappitta to Zwedru Road Project under the Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP) which seeks to connect farms to markets.
He also pointed out that the RIA Road Dual Carriageway Reconstruction is ongoing while acceleration in work levels is satisfactory, as anomalies have been corrected and completion rating is approximately 32 percent.
The Minister added that the Sanniquellie to Louquatuo Road Project, funded by the African Development Bank and the European Union, completion level is 77 percent, with 37km pavement, as it is expected to be dedicated by 2025.
Meanwhile, Giddings also revealed that the long-awaited Coastal Highway is now becoming a reality, disclosing that with the availability of the first trunk of funding, construction works along that corridor are expected to commence soon, beginning from Barclayville to Sasstown.
