The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Boima S. Kamara, has described farm-to-market roads as key priorities under the ARREST Agenda of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
“We need a robust turn around that will help the free movement of goods and services from rural areas to urban areas across the country through road connectivity.”
Minister Kamara made the disclosure on Monday, February 26, 2024, when the World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Robert Taliercio O’Brien, paid a courtesy visit at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
The Liberian Finance Minister stressed that farm-to-market roads will help alleviate extreme poverty by the smooth movement of goods and services when businesses, farmers, and private farm owners’ produce are ready for the market, noting that the national development plan of President Boakai, “ARREST”, will focus on the construction of roads and other areas over the next six years, because roads are a great factor to private sector growth.
“Under President Boakai’s national development plan for the next six years, the construction of roads is critical because it will serve as a great factor to the private sector growth,’’ he explained.
Currently, the Government of Liberia has over 13,000km of roads that needs to be paved in order to boost the private sector. Out of 13,000 km of roads, only 9 percent has been done.
For his part, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia, Robert Taliercio O’Brien, explained that the Bank remains committed to supporting the ARREST Agenda of President Joseph N. Boakai.
“We are also committed to supporting the government’s budget in various sectors, including the private sector’s development and climate resilience,” O’Brien said.
According to him, the government’s 100-day deliverables plan is an excellent initiative and the World Bank looks forward to giving technical assistance wherever necessary.
“Going forward, we need to be more ambitious and focused on how the Bank can help Liberia through its development challenges. The Bank is excited to foster and strengthen stronger relationships with Liberia,” said O’Brien.
