Liberian professional engineer John Kpehe Boimah, Team Lead of Boimah Engineering Incorporated (BEI), has called on the Liberian Senate to cancel the proposed US$365 million road financing agreement with Pavi Fort, Al Associates (SL) LTD, describing it as a threat to Liberia’s economic sovereignty and local professional development.
In a detailed statement, Engineer Boimah argued that the proposed deal with the Sierra Leonean firm lacks transparency, technical credibility, and meaningful benefits for Liberian engineers and contractors.
He warned that approving the agreement would repeat past mistakes where foreign-led infrastructure projects left Liberia burdened with debt and deprived of local capacity building.
“This is not about nationality, it’s about capacity, credibility, and proven performance,” Boimah emphasized. “The evidence shows Pavi Fort- Al Associates (SL) LTD lacks the technical and financial strength to manage a project of this scale. To hand them control of our infrastructure is an unacceptable risk.”
Boimah proposed that the Ministry of Public Works instead initiate an open, competitive international bidding process to ensure value for money, technical integrity, and local content participation.
He outlined five key reasons the Senate should reject the deal:
Exclusion of Liberian Professionals – The agreement centralizes control and funding in foreign hands, sidelining local engineers and firms.
Loss of Job Opportunities-Most leadership and technical roles would go to expatriates, leaving Liberians with minimal involvement.
Lack of Skills Transfer- The deal contains no provisions for mentorship, training, or capacity building for Liberian professionals.
Economic Disempowerment-Capital flight from foreign-dominated projects deprives Liberians of income and weakens the local economy.
Neo-Colonial Dependency-The deal entrenches foreign control over national infrastructure, undermining Liberia’s long-term self-reliance.
“True development lies in empowering Liberians to design, build, and maintain their own infrastructure,” Boimah said. “We must build roads-but we must also build ourselves.”
Boimah highlighted that his firm, Boimah Engineering Incorporated, is already equipped with the expertise needed for such projects. BEI specializes in road and bridge design, construction supervision, and geotechnical investigations, adhering to AASHTO and ASTM international standards.
He urged lawmakers to demonstrate courage and patriotism by rejecting the Pavi Fort concession and championing a development model centered on Liberian capacity, transparency, and economic empowerment.
“This is a defining moment for our Legislature,” Boimah concluded. “We can either surrender our future or engineer it ourselves.”
About Boimah Engineering Incorporated (BEI):
BEI is a Liberian-owned professional engineering firm offering services in highway design, construction supervision, geotechnical analysis, and structural engineering. Drawing from over two decades of international experience, BEI is dedicated to advancing sustainable infrastructure development in Liberia.
