Monrovia – Since May 2024, Liberians eagerly embraced the announcement of a major road building and maintenance initiative under the Joseph Nyumah Boakai administration, which planned to acquire 285 yellow machines as part of the country’s most extensive postwar infrastructure project.
This initiative, heralded as the key to transforming Liberia’s road network, was part of President Boakai’s election promise to ensure that no car would get stuck in the mud.
The initiative was enthusiastically introduced by Mamaka Bility, Liberia’s Minister of State without Portfolio, during a Cabinet retreat held at the EJS Ministerial Complex in Monrovia.
However, this major development program, championed by South African businessman Robert Gumede and his company GM Earthworks Equipment, is now under serious threat.
Unseen forces, including foreign commercial interests and local political figures, are attempting to derail the initiative for personal and financial gain, putting President Boakai’s signature road program at risk.
FrontPage Africa has gathered from inside sources that several alternative proposals have emerged from local Chinese companies, such as Evergreen, whose counter-offers have been reportedly endorsed by the technical evaluation committee chaired by Vice President Jeremiah Koung.
These proposals are presented as cost-effective alternatives to the original GM Earthworks proposal. However, experts warn that although these bids may appear appealing due to lower price tags, they fall short on key technical and operational standards essential for the success of the program.
GM Earthworks, which has offered the most comprehensive solution, has tailored its offer to suit Liberia’s specific needs, factoring in the country’s geographical and operational realities.
The company’s bid adheres to international technical specifications that align with Liberia’s national development plans, as outlined by Minister of Public Works Roland Giddings.
In contrast, Evergreen and other Chinese suppliers have proposed equipment that don’t meet international standards for use outside of China.
One major issue is that these machines lack the necessary warranty coverage, which poses a significant risk to the longevity of the equipment. Furthermore, Evergreen is not an authorized reseller of the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) products, raising doubts about the company’s capacity to service and maintain the machines, let alone provide adequate spare parts.
A closer look at the technical specifications reveals substantial differences between the two offers. GM Earthworks’ equipment, including motor graders, rollers, excavators, and dump trucks, is of a higher specification compared to those proposed by Evergreen.
For example, GM’s motor grader, based on the Sany SMG200, is considered a heavy-duty grader, far superior to Shantui’s offering.
Similarly, Sany’s excavators, which are leaders in China’s construction industry, are more powerful and fuel-efficient than Evergreen’s machines, ensuring better performance in Liberia’s tough operating conditions.
Additionally, GM’s Earthworks provides comprehensive training for operators and technicians, while Evergreen’s offer lacks such crucial provisions. The absence of OEM training could have long-term implications for the effective use and maintenance of the equipment.
Despite these glaring shortcomings, the alternative proposals have garnered attention, largely due to their lower initial cost. However, experts caution that opting for cheaper, subpar machinery could ultimately lead to costly breakdowns and maintenance failures within months of deployment, undermining the effectiveness of the road-building initiative.
Concerns have been raised regarding the integrity of the bidding process. The alternative offers submitted by Evergreen and other companies in September 2024 seem to mimic the format of GM Earthworks’ original proposal, suggesting a lack of originality and transparency.
Furthermore, Evergreen’s pricing appears unrealistic, with experts pointing out that it falls below the actual cost GM Earthworks would incur as an authorized international reseller of the OEM equipment.
As the rainy season nears, which will halt most roadwork for several months, the need for timely delivery of equipment becomes increasingly critical. GM Earthworks has committed to delivering the machines within 60 days, in time for the beginning of the rainy season, while Evergreen’s offer is vague on delivery timelines.
This looming standoff between local officials, foreign business interests, and the Boakai administration’s vision for Liberia’s infrastructure could have serious consequences.
Political and economic pressures from these competing interests threaten to undermine the nation’s long-term development goals.
If the project is delayed or derailed, it could result in a loss of two crucial years in the country’s road-building program, severely hampering Liberia’s growth and development.
For the Boakai administration, the success of the road-building initiative is not just an economic issue but a matter of political credibility.
The stakes are high, and the outcome of this ongoing dispute will determine whether Liberia can achieve the infrastructural transformation it desperately needs.
