Ngafuan, Giddings Meet OFID officials -Seek Accelerated Funding Roads

MONROVIA – The Government of Liberia is intensifying efforts to secure and accelerate financing for the Gbarnga–Mendikorma Highway, a vital regional road corridor, following high-level talks with the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) on Wednesday.

Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and Public Works Minister Roland Lafayette Giddings held extensive discussions with a visiting OFID mission led by Mourad Bouaou, Director of Portfolio Management for the Public Sector.

The meeting focused on sustaining and expanding financing for the 256-kilometer highway, which is part of the Trans–West African Highway Network, linking Liberia to Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Both sides reviewed ongoing progress, with Mr. Bouaou describing the talks as “highly productive.” A strong emphasis was placed on expediting work on the Salayea section of the route, which has faced delays due to financing gaps, difficult weather patterns, and technical adjustments.

Minister Ngafuan underscored the critical importance of advancing this portion, stating that its completion would significantly enhance agricultural trade for an estimated 280,000 residents in Lofa and Bong counties.

A key agenda item was the Government of Liberia’s appeal for additional financing from OFID and other Arab lending institutions to support the next leg: the Salayea–Konia–Voinjama section.This segment is projected by the Ministry of Public Works to cost between US$120 million and US$150 million.

Public Works Minister Giddings explained that completing the corridor would drastically reduce travel time between Gbarnga and Voinjama from nine hours to under four, providing a major boost to commerce, medical access, and cross-border mobility across the Mano River Union.

The meeting also reviewed plans for the Voinjama–Mendikorma segment, the final stretch expected to be funded under the PAVITO Agreement, currently awaiting ratification by the National Legislature.

Once approved, this final link will establish a direct road connection from Liberia to Guinea via the Mendikorma border. Preliminary Ministry of Commerce projections indicate this will stimulate cross-border trade by roughly 30 percent over the next five years.

Minister Ngafuan reaffirmed the Boakai administration’s commitment to rebuilding Liberia’s infrastructure backbone, calling the highway a national priority for its significant economic and regional integration benefits.

“This project is not just a road; it is a lifeline for agriculture, trade, and mobility for thousands of citizens. Our partnership with OPEC Fund and other Arab lenders is vital in ensuring its completion,” he stated.

OFID Director Bouaou praised Liberia’s renewed engagement and expressed strong optimism about strengthening cooperation in the next phases of the project, which ultimately serves more than 120 million inhabitants across the subregion.