Monrovia, Liberia: Today, July 23, 2024 marks the Official Signing of the Liberian-Swedish Access Driven Rural Development Project (LISA) between the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Public Works and the Swedish Government. 

Making special remarks, Swedish Ambassador accredited to Monrovia, H. E. Urban Sjostrom lauded the Ministry of Public Works for the strong partnership dating back 2008 with the construction of several feeder roads across the country.

According to him, the Government of Sweden remains committed to supporting Liberia's road development aimed at fostering access to rural roads, thereby improving farm-to-market road corridors.

Ambassador Sjostrom also used the occasion to recount the successful implementation of the Liberian-Swedish Feeder Roads Project III which primarily focused on the construction of Village Access Roads (VAR), also known as "Track Roads".

For his part, Public Works Minister Roland Layfette Giddings  extolled the Government and People of Sweden for their continued support towards Liberia's national development efforts, mainly in the area of road infrastructures.

Minister Giddings intimated that the launch of the Liberian Swedish Access Driven Rural Development Project (LISA) aligns with the Government of Liberia's ARREST AGENDA of which roads connectivity is an integral pillar.

Minister Giddings thanked the Swedish Government for the support, and reaffirmed the Ministry's unwavering commitment towards the implementation of the project.
Also speaking was Deputy Minister for Budget and Development Planning at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Tanneh Brunson who represented the Acting Finance Minister, Hon. Anthony Myers.

Madam Brunson highlighted the economic returns associated with the construction of feeder roads in the country.
"This Project comes at the point where we are beginning to roll out the decentralization of the Local Government Development Plan, and Agriculture is a key Deliverable of this Administration", she intoned.

Madam Brunson pointed out that the construction of the Village Access Roads will create an enabling environment for cash injection into the local economy by leveraging labour-based efforts of community dwellers. 

The Project is valued at approximately Five Million United States Dollars and it aims to improve, within two years, 195 kilometers of Village Access Roads in Bong, Lofa and Nimba Counties with a goal to booster the standard of living in these rural communities, thereby reducing poverty. 

Signing Ceremony of the Liberian-Swedish Access-Driven Rural Development Project in video.