-Government to Unveil Completed 81-Kilometer Corridor, Break Ground for Additional Roads and Announce New Investments in Electricity and Healthcare
MONROVIA, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai is expected to travel to Lofa County on Tuesday, July 28, to dedicate the newly completed 81-kilometer Gbarnga–Salayea Road Corridor and officially launch construction of two additional road projects that will further improve transportation, trade and economic opportunities in northern Liberia.
The President will be joined by senior government officials and representatives of the Arab Coordination Group, including the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the OPEC Fund for International Development (OPEC Fund) and the Saudi Fund for Development, during a ceremony at the Bong–Lofa County Border Rest Station.
The event marks another major milestone in the implementation of the Boakai Administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), which places infrastructure development at the center of the government’s strategy to stimulate economic growth, improve access to public services and connect underserved regions of the country.
New Phase of Road Development
Following the dedication of the Gbarnga–Salayea Road, President Boakai will break ground for the construction of the 50-kilometer Salayea–Konia Road and the 6-kilometer Zorzor–Yeala Road, projects expected to significantly improve mobility throughout Lofa County.
Government officials say the new road projects will strengthen regional connectivity, facilitate the movement of goods and people, reduce transportation costs, improve access to markets, schools and healthcare facilities, and promote cross-border trade with neighboring Guinea.
Construction is expected to begin during the upcoming dry season.
Government Mobilizes US$72.8 Million
The road expansion follows the Government of Liberia’s successful mobilization of US$72.8 million in financing secured through the leadership of Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan.
The funding package was provided by the OPEC Fund for International Development, BADEA, and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to finance the upgrading of the 56-kilometer road corridor, including the Salayea–Konia Road and the Zorzor–Yeala Road.
The financing represents another major achievement in the government’s efforts to leverage international development partnerships to address Liberia’s longstanding infrastructure deficit.
Saudi Fund Commits Financing for Konia–Voinjama Road
The Government has also secured a financing commitment from the Saudi Fund for Development for the paving of the remaining 64-kilometer Konia–Voinjama Road, a critical segment that will complete one of Liberia’s most strategic transportation corridors.
Once completed, the corridor will provide an all-weather paved connection from Gbarnga through Salayea, Konia and Voinjama, improving trade and mobility throughout Lofa County while strengthening economic links with the Republic of Guinea.
The project is expected to enhance regional integration, facilitate agricultural marketing and reduce travel times for residents and businesses operating in northern Liberia.
Roads Expected to Spur Jobs and Economic Growth
Government officials say construction of the new road corridors will create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs while stimulating commerce, agriculture and private investment.
Lofa County is one of Liberia’s leading agricultural regions, and improved road infrastructure is expected to reduce post-harvest losses, lower transportation costs and provide farmers with easier access to domestic and international markets.
The projects are also expected to improve access for public service providers, emergency responders and educational institutions across the region.
US$49.6 Million Power Project for Central and Northern Liberia
Beyond roads, the Government has secured an additional US$49.6 million from the Saudi Fund for Development to finance the Botota–Gbarnga–Zorzor Transmission Line and Substation Project.
The electricity project is expected to expand access to reliable power across central and northern Liberia, supporting industrial development, encouraging private investment and improving living conditions for thousands of households.
The investment forms part of the Boakai Administration’s broader strategy to address infrastructure gaps in transportation, energy and public services simultaneously.
Healthcare Facilities to Receive Major Upgrades
Recognizing that development extends beyond transportation infrastructure, the Government has also obtained a US$700,000 grant from BADEA to renovate, rehabilitate and equip the Salayea Clinic and the Konia Health Center.
Officials say the health sector investment will strengthen medical services along the road corridor by improving access to quality healthcare for residents in surrounding communities.
The upgraded facilities are expected to enhance maternal and child health services, emergency care and general healthcare delivery in two important communities that have historically faced infrastructure challenges.
A Key Pillar of the ARREST Agenda
The road, electricity and healthcare projects reflect the Boakai Administration’s broader commitment to implementing the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, which identifies modern infrastructure as a key driver of economic transformation and inclusive national growth.
Since assuming office, the administration has prioritized mobilizing concessional financing from international development partners to accelerate investments in roads, energy, healthcare, education and agriculture.
Officials say these investments are intended not only to improve public services but also to create employment opportunities, attract private investment and strengthen Liberia’s competitiveness within the Mano River Union and the wider West African region.
The dedication of the Gbarnga–Salayea Road and the groundbreaking for the Salayea–Konia and Zorzor–Yeala roads therefore represent more than the completion of individual infrastructure projects—they symbolize a broader effort to connect communities, unlock economic opportunities and lay the foundation for sustainable national development.
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