GBARNGA, BONG COUNTY: The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Public Works and the Swedish Government have officially launched the construction of 195 kilometers of Village Access Roads in Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties.

The Ceremony was held at the Cuttington University in Bong County, assembling an array of high-ranking officials of Government and Donor Partners including the Superintendents of Bong, Lofa and Nimba (proxy); Senator Prince Moye of Bong County, as well as Representatives from the Sweden International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Swedish Embassy accredited near Monrovia.

Speaking on behalf of the Ministry of Public Works, Deputy Minister for Rural Development and Community Services Jocelia Taplah extolled the Government of Sweden for the support, adding that the construction of village access roads will not only provide access to feeder roads, but will also improve the standard of living for rural communities through the formation of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) who will be actively involved in the implementation of the project.

Madam Taplah also used the occasion to thank H. E. President Joseph Nyumah Boakai for ably steering the affairs of the country’s infrastructure sector.

For her part, Bong County Superintendent Madam Loleya Hawa Norris who hosted the event expressed satisfaction and pledged the County’s fullest cooperation throughout the implementation of the project.

She stressed the importance of the construction of the village access roads for local farmers who are usually unable to get their produce to the markets.

Representing the Swedish Embassy was Carl-henrik  Jacobson, the Programme Officer for Inclusive Economic Development.

Mr. Jacobson said Sweden and Liberia continue to enjoy what he calls an “excellent and longstanding bilateral relationship”. 

According to the Sweden Embassy Envoy,  the relationship subsisting between the Governments of Liberia and Sweden is based on friendship and mutual understanding, as well as common views on many international issues bordering on democracy and human rights.

He asserted that the construction of the village access roads in Liberia is a clear evidence of of the collaboration between the two nations.

Mr. Jacobson termed the VARs Project amongst many projects supported by the Swedish Embassy as: “the project with the most tangible results.”

Also speaking was the Director of the Liberia Swedish Access Driven Rural Development Programme Elvis Mensahn who gave the Project Briefing.

He, amongst many things, outlined the breakdown of the 195 kilometers of village access roads in Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties:

• 60 kilometers of VARs for Bong in Zota, Panta, Suacoco, Yedequelleh, Jorquelleh and Salala Districts.

• 45 kilometers for Lofa in Zorzor, Voinjama, Kolahun and Foya, 

• 90 kilometers for Nimba in Bega, Doe, Sanniquellie Mahn, Gbehley-Geh, Zoe-Gboa and Gbao Districts.

The Liberian Swedish Access Driven Rural Development Project evolved out of a 5-Million Dollar Grant from the Swedish Government, and the Project is expected to run for twenty four months - from July 2024 to June 2026.

Meanwhile, the Ministry and Partners also launched the VARs Manual.

Deputy Minister Taplah said the Manual will be used as a standard in the future for future construction of VARs and part of the classifications of roads in the country.