Liberia: President Boakai’s Pledge to End ‘Bad Road Nightmare’ Gets Mixed Reactions

MONROVIA – After coming to power in January, President Joseph Boakai provided his short-term directions for the country, crafted into a 100-day action plan, with top concerns accelerating the fight against corruption and making primary roads usable in all seasons – but not everyone is happy.

Selma Lomax,

In a special address on 30 April, Boakai said that contractors, logistics and resources had been mobilized to ensure the rehabilitation and maintenance of several roads.

“Under our 100-day action plan for road maintenance; we earmarked 11 key projects across the country to make sure that primary roads are all pliable within all seasons,” he said.

The action follows his election campaign promise that his administration would ensure that “no car will get stuck in the mud after the first 100 days”.

A total of $23.5m was budgeted to complete the tasks in the first 100 days, but the communication director of the Ministry of Public Works, Benjamin Myers, told FrontPageAfrica that only $8.9 million has been remitted to the Ministry of Public Works by the Ministry of Finance.

Liberian roads are known for their impassibility, especially during the rainy seasons, which hampers commercial and general movement throughout the country.

The Liberian leader said his administration is implementing road projects across the country totalling 783.5km. Major road corridor projects have commenced in Bong, Lofa, Bomi, Gbarpolu, Nimba, Grand Gedeh, Rivergee, Grand Bassa, Sinoe, Maryland and Grand Kru counties.

Boakai touted his plan as a way to put Liberia on a trajectory that will build a stronger economy driven by accountability and provide opportunities for all Liberians regardless of political and religious affiliations.

Rehabilitation works on 12 “major roads”

As per the president’s promise, Myers said the government has commenced implementation of road rehabilitation works across twelve “major” road corridors that were once beset with the perennial, age-old hurdle of “bad roads”, mainly during the rainy season and that hindered the free movement of commuters – most of whom are business people, school going pedestrians, health workers and a host of other demography.

He added that as required by best global engineering practices, the rehabilitation of roads under the 100-Day deliverables commenced with a comprehensive, technical assessment carried out by the Ministry. 

The entire twelve road corridors were divided into four (4) zones across the country, including Western corridor – Montserrado, Bomi and Gbarpol Counties, Coastal Corridor – Grand Bassa, River Cess and Sinoe Counties, Southeast corridor – Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland and Grand Kru, and the Northwest Corridor – Nimba & Lofa Counties, he added.

Contracts awarded to nine companies — five of which are Liberian-owned “because of out-put based performance contract signed by the Ministries of Public Works, Finance and Development Planning, and Justice, indicating that payments are progressive and contingent on the quality and percentage of work done.”

The Chinese company, CHICO, was one of nine companies contracted to rehabilitate the 119km Voinjama-Salayea road with negotiated contract total amount $3,999,000.00, while advance payment made up to date (40 percent of negotiated amount) was $1,599,600.00.

The Voinjama-Foya (63 km) was awarded to SSF Entrepreneur, with a negotiated contract total amount of $1,719,976.40, while advance payment made up to date (40 percent of negotiated amount) was $687.990.56.

Myers also told FrontPageAfrica the ministry awarded contracts to nine companies 

The exercise, according to Myers, was executed by a Joint Technical-Working Group which deployed engineers from both Technical and Rural Development, with Administration playing an integral part in terms of logistics, funding and administrative oversight.

“Findings arising therefrom informed the preparation of Bill of Quantities (BOQs), and employed as guide for the Contractors to follow approved technical specifications and methodology,” he added.

Myers added that considering the rainy season and the difficulties encountered during the movement of goods and services which are normally impeded due to bad roads, the Ministry, applying prudence and swiftness, envisioned confronting the problems beforehand in order to avert imminent danger to be posed by the rains.

He added that towards this end, the selection of the contractors was premised on the following reasons: companies recommended are legally registered and licensed under the laws of Liberia to carry out road construction works.

He added the ministry assigned site engineers to regularly monitor and supervise the implementation of the projects, adding that the early intervention on these corridors sought to enable citizens to travel to and fro during the rainy season, as well as international partners to visit road and other rural projects.

Promise Under Scrutiny 

Recently, Rep. Yekeh Kolubah, while traveling on the Ganta-Saclepea road, criticized the government for “abandoning the road” construction project and failing to maintain it to ensure smooth vehicle flow during the rainy season.

In response, Deputy Public Works Minister, Joseph Myers, told FrontPage Africa (FPA) that the Ganta-Saclepea road was not included in the government’s 100-day deliverables because it was already contracted for asphalt paving. He explained that work had temporarily stopped due to delayed funding disbursements under the previous Weah-Taylor administration, which still owes the contractor US$4 million. Myers assured that the funds would be allocated in the next budget year, allowing the project to resume by the dry season. “By the dry season, work will officially resume because the government has committed that the $4 million will be paid in the next budget year. However, some interventions were made to maintain the road for the rainy season,” he said.

While the Boakai-Koung administration has been commended for rehabilitating the laterite road to ensure free movement, some areas excluded from the 100-day deliverables have expressed disappointment.

One such area is the Buchanan-to-Nimba corridor via Rivercess, a major road that was not prioritized. The road runs through the Liberia Agriculture Company (LAC) plantation, extends through Rivercess District #1, and connects to District #9 in Nimba County. It has reportedly become impassable, prompting Rep. Alex Grant (District #1, Rivercess County) to block the Liberia Timber Trading Corporation (LTTC) from transporting logs through his district.

LTTC operates in the Gbi-Doru Administrative District at the southern tip of Nimba County, bordering Rivercess County. Typically, the company uses a shorter, more convenient route through District #1 to transport logs to the Port of Buchanan. However, Rep. Grant has barred LTTC’s vehicles, including log trucks, from using the road unless the government commits to repairing the damage caused by ongoing rainfall and heavy traffic from the trucks.

Myers acknowledged that the road was not included due to budget constraints, noting that the government prioritized roads with higher traffic. He expressed hope that the road would be considered in the next project cycle.

Additionally, Myers revealed that the Ministry of Public Works is reviewing contracts with underperforming companies and may terminate those that failed to meet expectations. “I can assure you that there are companies that underperformed during the 24-month period, and their contracts will be terminated before the second phase of the work begins,” he said.

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