By: George C Flomo
MONROVIA – Two senior officials from the former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government have pushed back against claims of mismanagement of road infrastructure funds, particularly allegations surrounding the misuse of US$29 million from the Road Fund.
Appearing Tuesday on a local talk show in Monrovia, Deputy Minister Joseph Todd and Assistant Minister J. Jefferson Chesson, both formerly with the Ministry of Public Works, described the allegations as “a fabrication” and an attempt by the current Unity Party-led government to downplay the achievements of the previous administration.
“The Road Fund had no money. There was no US$29 million that was misapplied by the CDC government — never. That is a huge fabrication by this administration, and it’s unfair,” said Chesson during the broadcast.
The duo emphasized that all major road projects undertaken during their tenure were either fully funded or in advanced procurement stages before the CDC government left office. They pointed to the Ganta–Saclepea corridor and its extension through Tapeta and Toe Town as key examples.
Todd revealed that when the CDC government took power in 2018, the Road Fund office was nonfunctional and had to be established from the ground up.
“We came to meet an agreement between the World Bank and the former government that road pavement would be done in segments. But the implementation was stuck because it relied on public-private partnerships using Road Fund revenues as collateral which wasn’t practical during COVID-19,” Todd explained.
He added that, recognizing these challenges, the CDC government wrote to the World Bank to seek permission to front-load the financing for the Ganta–Saclepea road segment using taxpayer funds, bypassing the complicated private sector investment model.
Chesson further clarified that the World Bank does not release project funding directly into government accounts but instead channels it through the Public Financial Management Unit (PFMU), under the Bank’s oversight.
“How can the government misapply US$20 million of World Bank money and still expect the Bank to continue funding the project? It’s simply not possible,” Chesson stressed.
He accused the current administration of deliberately twisting facts and taking undue credit for infrastructure projects whose groundwork had been laid by the CDC government.
The officials listed several key road projects completed or initiated under their administration, including:
Gbarnga–Salayea (81 km): 65 km completed; Ganta–Sanniquellie–Yekepa (67 km): 35 km completed;
Ganta–Saclepea (39 km): 20 km completed; Sanniquellie–Loguatuo (47.1 km): 22 km completed;
Harper–Karloken (50 km): 30 km completed; Karloken–Fish Town (80 km): 100% completed; Harper Junction–Cavalla Customs Border (16 km): 100% completed; ELWA Road: fully paved, pending final dressing; Cape Mount–Madina–Robertsport Road: contract signed, work underway before transition
They also cited the RIA highway project as an example of misplaced criticism by the current government.
“We were heavily criticized for the RIA road. They said it wasn’t possible. Today, they are celebrating the same road while pretending it all started under their leadership,” Chesson said.
Todd concluded by urging citizens, especially those residing in the southeastern corridor, to acknowledge the CDC administration’s contributions.
“For over 100 years, there were no all-weather roads in those areas. Now there are. That didn’t happen by accident. It happened because President Weah and our team made bold decisions,” he asserted.
The officials’ remarks come amid growing public scrutiny over infrastructure development, and just days after the Unity Party government released a report alleging widespread mismanagement under the previous administration.
As both camps continue to trade claims and counterclaims, the state of Liberia’s roads remains a pressing concern for the public, particularly in remote counties where road access remains a barrier to healthcare, education, and commerce.