Monrovia – Grand Kru County Senator Numone T. H. Bartekwa has raised alarm over the unexplained delays in several donor-funded road projects critical to Liberia’s infrastructure development. In response, the Liberian Senate has instructed its committees on Public Works, Foreign Affairs, and Finance to investigate the reasons behind the halted projects and identify whether the responsibility lies with the government or international donors.
Speaking at the Capitol Building on March 10, 2025, Senator Bartekwa expressed frustration over the lack of progress on key road initiatives that were expected to enhance regional connectivity. In a formal communication to Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, he emphasized the urgent need for answers from relevant ministries regarding the stalled projects, which have left rural communities struggling with poor road access.
One of the projects under scrutiny is the coastal highway agreement signed in December 2018. The initiative, backed by a $100 million pledge from the Indian Government through the ECOWAS Bank for Development and Investment, was intended to construct a 96.6-kilometer highway linking Barclayville in Grand Kru County to Klowne in Sinoe County via Sastown. Despite the formal agreement, construction has yet to begin, leaving residents without the promised improvements.
Senator Bartekwa also pointed to a 2021 commitment by the African Development Bank to finance a 60-kilometer road connecting Kelipo Kanweakan in River Gee County to Putuken in Grand Gedeh County. This project, which was anticipated to strengthen trade and facilitate regional movement, remains unfulfilled years after the funding was announced.
Additionally, concerns surround the abandoned 40-kilometer road between Karloken in Maryland County and Fish Town in River Gee County. Initiated with African Development Bank support, the project was suspended in 2020 without public explanation, raising further questions about the government’s handling of donor-funded infrastructure.
In his letter to the Senate, Bartekwa called for the Ministers of Public Works, Foreign Affairs, and Finance and Development Planning to appear before the Plenary and provide a detailed explanation for the delays. He urged them to outline a clear plan for resuming and completing the projects, stressing that prolonged inaction is worsening the hardships faced by rural communities.
Senator Bartekwa warned that failure to address these issues undermines public trust and jeopardizes future donor commitments.
