The Liberian Government has claimed reaching close to its target in road connectivity as it plans to pave a total of 517 kilometers of road nationwide.
Public Works Acting Minister Ruth Coker-Collins said the government has tackled about 470 kilometers of road, representing 91 percent of the targeted 517 kilometers and that the total number of 146 kilometers of road have been completed while 324 kilometers of road works are still ongoing throughout Liberia.
Coker-Collins added that out of the 324 kilometers road works ongoing across the country, the government has completed some roads by 40 to 50 percent, while others like the Banjor road are at 90 percent.
She stated further that the government is hopeful of completing the ongoing 324 kilometers of roads by the end of this year 2022, namely Gbarnga-Salayea and Sanniquellie-Loguatuo.
Others are Ganta-Yekepa, Saclepea-Tappita, Ganta-Saclepea, Karloken-Fishtown, ELWA-RIA and the ELWA-Coca Cola Junction Roads as projects which are currently experiencing government’s intervention.
Coker-Collins also indicated that 146 kilometers of roads which have been completed includes the Harper to Karloken to Cavalla; Japan Freeway; Logan Town Broad Street and the Bishop Michael Francis Road, among others.
The Minister said the government is currently doing a total of 526.7 kilometers of feeder roads across the country and lauded the Swedish and the French governments and the African Development Bank, among others, for their contributions towards the infrastructure agenda of the country, most especially in road connectivity.
The Minister vowed to implement the quest of President George Weah in ensuring the pavement of major streets in the capitals aimed at achieving a decentralized development agenda.
Coker-Collins said the death of the former Minister coupled with the inability by local contractors to deliver on a timely basis are some of the factors that have negatively contributed to the slow pace of work around the country.
Nevertheless, she said the Ministry is doing everything possible to bring the local contractors on par with international standards.
Coker-Collins assured the public that the Ministry will ensure that local contractors do better in the provision of quality services to the Liberian people and on a timely basis.
She highlighted that about 60 percent of infrastructure contracts are being awarded to local contractors, which speaks volume to the desire of the government to empower Liberians in the reconstruction process of the country.
Minister Coker-Collins then urged local contractors to form partnerships aimed at attracting bigger contracts from international institutions across the globe.
She indicated that forming partnerships will enable local companies to galvanize their resources and expertise which, according to her, will build donor confidence in the local contractors.
The awarding of contracts to local Liberian firms is directly in line with Pillar One and Two of the Pro-poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) as Pillar one talks about power to the people, while Pillar two highlights economic and jobs creation for Liberians.
