-As Weah breaks grounds for the over 45km RIA road expansion
By Mark N. Mengonfia,mmenginfia@gmail.com
After being in power for just over two years, President George Manneh has been given different nicknames, from the “Country Giant”, he is now being referred to as “Bad Road Medicine” like former MOVEE party leader, Dr. Mills Jones was given similar name, Poverty Doctor”.
As he broke grounds for the 45-kilometer Roberts International Aiport highway expansion on Thursday, February 20, 2020, he was being referred to as the “Road Medicine”.
But he provides medicine for the roads, public hospitals lack drugs and medical supplies, while prices of basic commodities such as food have skyrocketed amid the serious economic crisis. President Weah even came under fire in recent weeks from former Presidential candidadate, Macdella Cooper, who said roads are good, but the Liberian people cannot eat the roads.
Yesterday (Thursday), the international football icon-turned politician has repeatedly boasted of carrying out the most infrastructure development like roads than any other Liberian President, though has just been in office for just two years, a claim many government critics strongly dispute.
one of the stalwarts of his ruling CDC party and Representative of Grand Bassa County, who is Chairman of the House Committee on Public Works, Matthew Joe boasted that by general elections in 2023, this government will have built up a one thousand miles of road network.
At Unification Town near the country’s only international aiport, President Weah was greeted by the students, the elderly and ordinary Liberian citizens who were seen singing, dancing and shooting pro- government slogans.
After waiting for hours, Liberian President, George M. Weah arrived at the site designated for the ground breaking in Unification Town, walked, washed his hands and proceeded to greet some traditional leaders of Margibi County at which time he was welcomed with white chicken as a sign of giving him the green light for the ground breaking ceremony.
In his statement before the official ceremony, President George M. Weah said “Today is an historic day. It is a day like no other in the history of our country. Because, for the very first time since our founding more than 170 years ago, we are here to break grounds for the first modern four-lane highway in Liberia.”
The Liberian president said Yes, it is true that since we came to office, we have broken grounds, paved, and completed many kilometers of new roads within various communities that have suffered from the terrible conditions of living with unpaved roads…such as dust in the dry season and mud in the rainy season. These modest efforts have brought about a massive improvement in the quality of life in these communities, and we will continue with this program until all major community roads are paved.
According to him, the project is one that is long overdue because of the safety hazards presented by its narrowness and darkness adding that the RIA Highway has been a death-trap since it was built in the 1940’s, during World War Two.
In the 70 years of its existence, it has claimed the lives of thousands of unfortunate passengers, both Liberians and foreigners alike he said as he looked across the crowded canopies.
He indicated that the RIA high the most convenient route for the movement of people, goods, and services to and from six of our fifteen counties, namely: Margibi, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Sinoe, Grand Kru, and Maryland. Additionally, some of these counties are hosts to several multinational corporations such as Firestone, and Golden Veroleoum.
He indicated that his government is commented to providing road connectivity to the citizens of Liberia and other Nationals in the borders of the Country.
President Weah who appeared to be over-warmed by the level of support received from his partners and the works done by Liberias Minister for Public Works could not hold back a laughter when he said” I also would like to commend the Minister of Public Works and his hard-working team for making us proud over the first two years of our Administration. We know that the circumstances are challenging, and that the demands supercede available resources, but you have stood the test of time. We therefore encourage you to continue your hard work, in the interest of the Liberian people”.
“Madam Vice President, please help me tell him thanks” as he dries his sweats and laughed at loud again.
The exuberant Liberian leader said he has heard of many unofficial titles COUNTRY GIANT. TALK AND DO. FEMINIST-IN-CHIEF.
But now there is a new one which I recently heard, and which I would like to share with you now, because I think that it is very relevant to this occasion. They now call me BAD ROAD MEDICINE. I am very proud of this new title, which depicts me as the antidote to bad roads, and I will do my very best during the rest of my tenure to deserve it President Weah said as clapping and laughing went across the crowded field.
Now therefore, today, in my new role as BAD ROAD MEDICINE, I wish to sound a clarion CALL TO ACTION, for the commencement of works for the expansion and reconstruction of the road corridor between RIA and ELWA Junction as a modern four-lane highway!!!
Giving a back ground of the project, Liberia’s Public Works Minister, Mobutu Nyanpan said the cause of the project is 94.5 Million United States dollars and that the estimated traffic of the road when completed will be 12,421 vehicles per day, six major intersection and there will be a toll placed at the Junk River Bridge.
The Works Minister informed the gathering that the thickness of the road wearing course will be 50mm, base course 150, and subbase 250.
Also pedestrian walkway will be 3 meters on both sides in urban areas, road shoulder will be 2.8 meters in rural areas, lighting facilities including median of d road, road station at Marshall Junction to include parking lot, green area, rooms, vehicle service center, gas station, food court n convenient stores.
He indicated that funding for the project was secured through the lobbying power of President George Weah.
He said the Weah administration did not receive any money from the Ellen led government or was there money in any consolidated account for the expansion. He was quick to say” Mr. President, this project is your signature.”
He informed Liberian who have gathered for the ‘ historic ‘ program said the project is expected to last for three years and will be dedicated on July 26, 2023.
He indicated that it will be done in phases starting with the RIA Airport to Junk River, junk river bridge to ELWA Junction Total and the last phase will be the reconstruction and expansion of the Junk River Bridge.
He said that all is set for the project to pickoff begging the settlement of those who homes are going to be affected by the project.
According to him, the government has already contracted EAST International for the construction works.
Lawmakers and citizens of Margibi County expressed welcomed the project and said it will greatly change their lives.