By Emmanuel Koffa
BARCLAYVILLE, Liberia — Grand Kru County, which is 600 kilometers southeast of Monrovia, is bracing for what could be a major infrastructure and development push, with Senator Nemene T. H. Bartekwa announcing a September visit by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung to launch and dedicate several key projects.
Senator Bartekwa said Vice President Koung is expected in the county to break ground for a number of projects, including a Mini Sport Stadium in Barclayville, the main campus of Grand Kru Technical College, and the construction of a 50-kilometer road linking Barclayville through Sasstown to Civilized Village.
The planned works also include the construction and improvement of streets in Barclayville, alongside other projects expected to address some of the county’s long-standing infrastructure challenges.
Beyond Grand Kru, Senator Bartekwa disclosed that the Government of Liberia is also planning the pavement of the 75-kilometer Barclayville–Pleebo road, a major corridor expected to strengthen transportation and economic connectivity between Grand Kru and Maryland County.
During the Vice President’s visit, several completed and ongoing projects are also expected to be dedicated, including the Grand Kru County Drop Depot, Youth Center, Gbanken Public School, and projects associated with Senator Bartekwa.
The announcement comes amid growing calls from residents for increased government investment in roads, education, youth development, sports, and other basic infrastructure.
For Grand Kru residents, the proposed projects represent more than construction activities; they are being viewed as potential steps toward addressing years of limited infrastructure development and improving access to economic and social opportunities.
Senator Bartekwa acknowledged the long wait for meaningful development in the county, saying:
“Our people have suffered so long, and they have waited for so long for these developments to come.”
If implemented as announced, the projects could mark a significant new chapter in Grand Kru’s development agenda, particularly in road connectivity, education, youth empowerment, and public infrastructure.