By Alex Yomah
The Weah-led Government has officially dedicated phase two of the Japan Freeway formerly known as the Somalia Drive as part of the Independence Day package.
Pres. Weah along with his Japanese partners on Monday, July 26, 2021 opened the 13. 2 kilometer Gardnesville route towards the Red Light in Paynesville worth US$95 million and he implored Liberians to protect and maintain the road.
He used the occasion to recognize his predecessor, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf roles played in the initiation of the road project indicating, “So let me at this point thank former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and all those involved in seeing it to completion.”
“Do not build makeshift market stalls on the road! Do not throw trash on the road! My fellow Liberians, let all of us do our part as responsible citizens,” he cautioned.
“We all have a responsibility to maintain the gift which has been given to us. So let us demonstrate our continuous appreciation to the Japanese government and its people through the way in which we take care of this Japan Freeway,” he appealed.
“As we gather here today to dedicate this crucial road linking important commercial corridors of Monrovia, we remain committed and steadfast in achieving the deliverables as set forth in the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development,” Weah assured.
It can be recalled that it was predicated upon the efforts aimed at strengthening the existing bilateral ties between Liberia and Japan that the Japanese government reconstructed the Somalia Drive.
President Weah applauded the Japanese government for its continuous support to the people of Liberia adding. “On behalf of the government and people of Liberia and in my own name, I want to thank the government and people of Japan for this wonderful gift which is being delivered on the occasion marking Liberia’s 174th Independence Day celebration.”
Weah recounted phase two of the Freeway drive project was consummated during his visit to Japan in 2019 for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) when the former Prime Minister Shinzo re-committed their respective governments to continued bilateral cooperation.
“Therefore, let me use this opportunity to again reiterate Liberia’s commitment to development cooperation with Japan under the TICAD framework and through direct bilateral engagement.”
The Liberian leader disclosed that the dedication of this road is a manifestation of the strong partnership that exists between both countries, concluding, “Ambassador Himeno, let me assure you that this relationship will continue to be nurtured under my administration. Japan remains one of our key partners in our development agenda.”