Liberia: Ministry of Public Works Launches Five-Year Strategic Plan - FrontPageAfrica

Monrovia – The Ministry of Public Works has launched a five-year Development Plan for road infrastructure and other infrastructural development initiatives.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

The plan, which specifically aligns with Pillar 2 of the AAID, has a basic goal to deliver resilient high quality infrastructure in an integrated transport sector. It aims to build modern and reliable infrastructure that supports socio-economic development.

Speaking at the launch, Public Minister, Mr. Roland Lafayatte Giddings, pointed out that having realized that one of the hurdles to Liberia’s progress to economic growth is access, the plan is designed as the strategic Ministry’s vision for the addressing this constraint.

Minister Giddings asserts that the Works Ministry is desirous of addressing the issue of roads as a fundamental key to investment.

To ensure this, Minister Giddings informed the gathering that the Ministry under his supervision has identified major growth corridors – some of which are now being developed.

Minister Giddings broke the good news by informing Liberians that the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Public Works will soon start with the Bo Waterside Corridor project under a public, private partnership (PPP) arrangement.

“We want to contract more loans for road development through PPP flexibility. This strategic plan will serve as a guide of our execution over the next five years – 2025-2029. After then, we will evaluate the plan to know whether it was executed properly, but we are committed to doing that,” added Minister Giddings.

Providing an overview of the Plan, Mr. Prince D. Tambah, Sr., Deputy Minister for Technical Services, says the plan is more than a roadmap – it’s a commitment to transforming Liberia’s infrastructure landscape, driving economic growth, and improving the quality of life for all Liberians.

He detailed that over the next five years, MPW aims to construct, rehabilitate, and maintain approximately 4,000 kilometers of roads across the country with an estimated budget of US$925,307,028.67.

Based on the strategic plan, the technical minister maintains that the Ministry will construct approximately 500 kilometers of new primary roads including drainage structures, focusing on connecting rural communities to markets and boosting agriculture.

At the same time, Deputy Minister Tambah reveals that under the plan, the government through Public Works will construct 1,090 kilometers of secondary road networks and 2500 kilometers of new links of feeder roads, rehabilitate 124 kilometers of existing urban roads, enhancing safety and reducing travel time.

Furthermore, he divulges that the Minister will under this period maintain 125 kilometers of paved urban roads to reduce vehicle maintenance cost and travel time and maintain over 2,000 kilometers of existing unpaved roads, ensuring sustainability and accessibility across the country.

“We will also carry out the construction of public buildings (markets, city halls, centers, etc.) We will prioritize resilient infrastructure, modern transportation networks, and sustainable urban development, while integrating climate resilience and digital technologies. Our focus will also be on promoting inclusivity, ensuring projects benefit all Liberians with an emphasis on safety and accessibility,” he disclosed.

The MPW Technical Services Minister added that this plan is a product of collaboration—with government agencies, development partners, and the people of Liberia.

“We therefore invite all stakeholders to join us in this pursuit. Together, we will build infrastructures that empower, connect, and propel Liberia forward.”