Liberia secures US$1.33 billion for agriculture, and infrastruture

By Jay Nagbe Sloh

Monrovia,  (LINA) – The Government of Liberia has identified eight priority infrastructure development projects for immediate implementation. The projects cover energy, agriculture, roads and bridges. They will cost a total of 2.4 billion United States Dollars.

The eight projects are grouped into three categories. Category one will cost 1.33 billion U.S. Dollars, and will be financed by Liberia, Japan, and the World Bank, according to reports, the Liberian Government has already concluded studies about these projects and secured funding for projects under category one.

The Liberia News Agency (LINA) reports that the information was disclosed Friday by Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mr. Amara Mohamed Konneh, when he addressed the opening session of a two-day workshop preparing members of the Government’s communications team to adequately inform and educate the public about Government’s development programs, achievements, and challenges.

Minister Konneh named energy projects under category one as the Mount Coffee Hydro  rehabilitation, heavy fuel oil, Paynesville – Kakata transmission and distribution, electrification f the Ivorian Border to Kakata highway, the heavy fuel oil unloading facility, and the West Africa Power Pool involving Cote dIvoire, Lib3eria, Sierra Leone, and Guinea.

Road projects under category one include the Paynesville – Ganta – Guinea Border highway, the Fish Town – Harper highway, the Ganta – Yekepa highway, the Somalia Drive highway linking the Freeport of Monrovia to the Paynesville Red Light through Gardnersville, Marshall Road highway. The Caldwell Bridge linking New Krutown and Caldwell will be constructed under Category One.

Agriculture projects to be undertaken under Category One are the West Africa Agricultural Productivity Program, the Smallholder Tree Crop Revitalization Support Project, the Smallholder productivity Enhancement Project, and West Africa Regional Fisheries Program.

Under Category Two, the Government has concluded feasibility studies and is aggressively looking for 486 million United States Dollars to finance electrification of the Monrovia – RIA – Firestone highway, the Monrovia – Tubmanburg highway, and consolidation of the electrification of Monrovia.

Lot One of the Gbarnga – Kornia  highway and the Zwedru – Fishtown highway are the two road projects under Category Two. The runway of the Roberts International Airport and the wharf of the Port of Greenville are the two main port projects under Category Two.

Feasibility studies for Category Three will soon be commissioned while funding is pursued for the Bo Waterside highway, Lot two of the Kornia— Mandekoma highway, and the Ganta—Zwedru highway. Projects under Category three are estimated to cost US$705 million.

Minister Konneh believes the projects earmarked will spur the economy and create much-needed jobs.

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