By: Contributing Writer
Zorzor, Lofa County – Former Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai, has sounded an urgent call to the Boakai-led administration to fast-track the long-overdue construction of the Gbarnga to Manikormah road – a vital route connecting Lofa County to the rest of Liberia.
Speaking as a guest speaker during the grand opening of the newly constructed Zorlayea Community Rural Finance Institution (ZRFCI) banking hall in Zorzor, Samukai described the slow pace of road construction as a missed opportunity for the people of Lofa.
“This road has to reach,” he stressed. Samukai, a former Lofa senatorial candidate, pointed out that despite high hopes, little progress has been made during the first dry season of the Boakai administration.
“Not much was done this dry season, and we are left with only five more seasons,” he warned. “If Lofa County misses this opportunity, I’m not certain whether we’ll get another.”
Highlighting the strategic importance of the road project, he urged government officials – especially those within the ministries responsible for infrastructure and finance – to take responsibility for the delay. “It’s not the president alone. If the money is available, then what are the ministers doing to bring the money here?” he asked.
He underscored the long history of political promises tied to the Lofa road, noting how every Liberian administration since the days of President Tubman has echoed the same commitment: “From Tubman, Talbot, Doe, Ellen, George Weah, now President Boakai, the promise has been the same. This road must reach.”
A Road Project Stuck in Time
The Gbarnga to Salayea segment of the Lofa road project, an 81-kilometer stretch was ceremoniously launched on December 21, 2017, by then-President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and President-elect George Weah.
At the time, the groundbreaking offered hope to a region that had waited decades for reliable road connectivity. Officially commencing in January 2018 with an estimated completion date set for 2021, the US$40 million project was a cornerstone of Liberia’s participation in the broader West Africa infrastructure connectivity initiative.
The project aimed to ensure seamless movement of goods and people across the region from Nigeria to Senegal on international-standard roads.
The construction, being implemented by CHICO, barely moved forward due to the past Liberian government’s failure to meet its financial obligations under the agreement. This bottleneck has led many to criticize what they see as selective infrastructure development, with more focus given to projects in Liberia’s southeastern region, leaving Lofa and Bong counties sidelined.
From Generation to Generation
Lofa County, often dubbed the “breadbasket” of Liberia due to its agricultural potential, remains isolated during the rainy season due to poor roads.
Samukai emphasized the importance of road access for boosting food security and trade. “Generations have talked about this road from our parents’ time to ours. How many generations must come and go before Lofa sees its road completed?” he asked passionately.
With only five dry seasons left in the Boakai term, Samukai is urging swift and deliberate action. “Don’t get tired. Keep pushing. Let this administration be the one that delivers. This is our time, and this road must reach.”
Meanwhile, Assistant Finance Minister for finance and Development Planning Henry D.Z. Yanquoi responding to the Former Defense Minister’s concern openly reaffirmed government’s support to successful completion of the Lofa road pavement.
“On behalf of the finance Minister and the finance Ministry, Under the Government of His Excellency Joseph Nyumah Boakai, we will build this road” he stated.
