Ganta – A high-level delegation from the World Bank, Swedish Embassy, British Embassy, and the Ministry of Public Works concluded a site visit to the Ganta-Guinea border in Nimba County.
By Franklin Doloquee [email protected]
The visit aimed to review the progress of road development projects funded by these partners, including the completion status of the Ganta-Guinea border road project, which is part of the Liberia Road Asset Management Project (LIBRAMP).
Public Works Minister Roland Giddings expressed gratitude to the development partners for their support in Liberia’s infrastructure development.
He highlighted the government’s use of funding from the World Bank and the Liberia Road Trust Fund (LRTF) to rehabilitate and maintain the 247 km road from the Coca-Cola Factory to the Ganta-Guinea border, divided into two sections. Giddings explained that the roadwork included routine and periodic maintenance as part of the Rural and Urban Road Section under LIBRAMP.
Minister Giddings emphasized the positive impact of the project, which has helped reduce transportation costs along the corridor from Monrovia to the Ganta-Guinea border. He also noted that the project would ensure the roads are maintained in good condition for the next 10 years.
The road project covers key areas such as design, rehabilitation, maintenance of rural sectors, and road safety, along with consultant services and involuntary resettlement processes.
Minister Giddings reiterated the government’s commitment to collaborating with development partners to continue improving infrastructure in Liberia.
During the visit, security personnel at the Ganta-Guinea border raised concerns about the poor road conditions on the Guinean side of the border, which they said are affecting government revenue collection.
According to officials from the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) and the Ministry of Commerce, the deteriorating road conditions in Guinea have reduced revenue collections at the border, from an estimated $200,000 to less than $500.
The joint security personnel urged the visiting delegation to engage with Guinean authorities, through the Guinea Embassy in Monrovia, to address the road issues on the Guinean side.
The delegation, which included World Bank Liberia Country Manager Georgia Wallen, World Bank Practice Manager for Transport Anne Cecile Souhaid, World Bank Senior Transport Specialist Tojoarofenitra Ramanakirahina, Minister Roland Giddings, Swedish Ambassador Karl Backeus, and Deputy Finance Minister for Economic Management Dehpue Y. Zuo, all pledged continued support for Liberia’s infrastructure development, particularly in improving roads and other essential services across the country.
