By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Bushrod Island, Liberia, July 3, 2026- More than seven communities on Bushrod Island have benefited from a new solar streetlighting project under the Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP), aimed at improving road safety, deterring crime, and enhancing visibility for motorists and pedestrians.
The project is one of several transformative investments being implemented by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Public Works (MPW), with financing from the World Bank (WB). The newly installed solar streetlights were officially commissioned on Wednesday evening, July 1, 2026, in Doe Community.
A total of 650 solar streetlights have been installed along 13.59 kilometers of roads across northern and southern Bushrod Island.
Beneficiary communities include Clara Town, Doe Community, Jamaica Road, Logan Town, Momo Town, Banjor Community, and other surrounding areas. The project, valued at US$1,169,416, was implemented by RESCO Inc., a Liberian contractor.
Beyond improving security and road safety, the project is expected to expand social and economic activities during nighttime. It forms part of LURP’s broader community upgrading and urban management program, which targets Monrovia, Paynesville, Buchanan, Gbarnga, and Ganta.
The commissioning ceremony was attended by officials of the Ministry of Public Works, local government authorities, community leaders from Montserrado County, members of the media, and other LURP stakeholders.
Speaking on behalf of the Government of Liberia, Acting Minister of Public Works A. Samuka Dunnoh formally commissioned the project and urged residents to protect the infrastructure from vandalism, support its maintenance, and preserve it for future generations.
“When communities take ownership of public infrastructure, they become active partners in national development,” Dunnoh said.
He added that the project demonstrates President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s commitment to providing modern, people-centered infrastructure that improves the quality of life for Liberians.
Earlier, a representative of the Office of the Superintendent of Montserrado County described the project as a clear demonstration of the government’s decentralization efforts and its commitment to improving the lives of ordinary Liberians.
Also speaking, the Governor of New Kru Town Borough, Robert Teah, emphasized the streetlighting initiative as a major boost to community security and development, calling it a practical investment with lasting benefits.
Garworlohn Township Commissioner Rudolph Ciafa Buima also thanked the World Bank and the Government of Liberia, noting that the solar streetlights would strengthen and stimulate local economic activity.
The Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP) is a six-year partnership between the Government of Liberia and the World Bank. Supported by US$40 million in World Bank financing, the project aims to strengthen urban planning and enhance flood and climate resilience through infrastructure development and institutional capacity building.
