Bo Waterside, Grand Cape Mount County
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Your Excellency, Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, and distinguished members of your delegation;
Honorable members of the Cabinet;
Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Development Partners and Donors;
County Superintendents and Local Government Officials;
Chiefs and Elders;
Our vibrant Youth;
The media;
Fellow Liberians;
Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is both an honor and a pleasure to gather here today at a defining moment in our nation’s journey toward development and progress. This occasion marks a significant milestone in our ongoing effort to deliver to the Liberian people what they rightfully deserve, and it reflects our resolve and responsibility to serve them.
From the earliest days of my campaign and in my Annual Messages to the nation, I made a firm commitment: to prioritize the development of Liberia’s road network and broader infrastructure.
This commitment is about transformation. It is about opening our country and bringing relief to our people, especially those in the interior who, for far too long, have been effectively locked away because of the historical disrepair of our roads and decades of rural neglect.
This effort is also about enabling development, improving livelihoods, and ensuring that every Liberian, regardless of where they live, can access opportunities, markets, healthcare, and education.
While we have made significant progress over the past two years—expanding our road network and are about to deploy yellow machines nationwide—we must be honest about the scale of the challenge ahead. To date, of more than 14,000 kilometers of roads nationwide, only 1,442 kilometers are paved, representing just 10.26 percent of the total network. For a nation approaching 200 years of existence, this is simply intolerable.
Yes, progress has been made over the past two years. But we must do more. And we will do more. We are determined to reverse these statistics and build a road network that meets the needs and aspirations of our people. This is a matter of respect for our people.
It is, therefore, with great pride that I present this transformative road project linking Montserrado, Bomi, and Grand Cape Mount—opening a vital gateway to Sierra Leone and the wider region.
This moment is made even more significant by the presence of our brothers and sisters from Sierra Leone, led by His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio. We are deeply honored by your presence. Our two countries are bound not only by shared borders but also by deep cultural ties, family connections, and a common history. What we build here today will further strengthen those bonds.
This road network, together with the planned Voinjama to Mendikorma corridor, will enhance cross-border trade, stimulate economic activity, and accelerate progress toward our national development goals.
This is a statement of intent by this Government and the people of Liberia.
A declaration that Liberia is moving forward. A commitment that no county, district, or citizen will be left behind.
Through our partnership with Pavifort Al Associates under a 25-year Public-Private Partnership, we are mobilizing approximately 364 million United States dollars to build modern, durable roads that will reduce travel time, lower transportation costs, and unlock economic potential across our nation.
But beyond asphalt and concrete, this project is about the people.
It will create more than 1,000 jobs for our young people, equip our workforce with new skills, and bring markets closer to farmers, patients to healthcare, and children to schools.
My fellow Liberians,
This project will be built to international standards, with climate resilience, enhanced safety features, and long-term maintenance systems to ensure it serves not only this generation but also generations to come.
Construction begins now. By 2030, we expect to see a transformed western corridor—one that drives trade, strengthens unity, and fuels national growth.
In conclusion, let us move forward together toward a future where every road leads to opportunity and every journey brings us closer as one nation.
May God bless us all and save our state. And may God bless the people of Sierra Leone.
Thank you.
