Amidst tumultuous fanfare and jubilation from excited residents, President George M. Weah symbolically switched on street lights lining the pavements along ELWA Junction to SKD Boulevard as scores of Liberians lined the streets applauding the president and chanting: “Prezo! Prezo! Prezo! Prezo! 12 years! 12 years! 12 years! 12 years!”
Residents, onlookers and passerby could be seen dancing and singing songs of joy to the well-lit nightline after President Weah ordered: “let there be light”. The lighting of the first set of street lights signifies the beginning of Lot One of the Street Light project which covers from ELWA Junction to Vomama House Junction.
An extremely elated President Weah, speaking on the occasion of the symbolic switching of street lights, said as a man few words and more action, the project is a manifestation of his willingness to do more for the Liberian people.
“I am grateful to God to dedicate this street light project on my birthday. When I took over as president, I told you I will speak more through my actions. Today is another example. As we provide street lights, let me inform all Liberians that I am working hard for LEC to provide transformers for more than 80 communities. I have authorized the payment of US$2 million for transformers. These transformers will be in town by Christmas,” President Weah disclosed.
Thanking Liberia’s international development partners for the level of assistance his administration continues to receive, President Weah also applauded all Liberians for the confidence reposed in him to lead.
“I want to thank our international partners, and I want to thank you again my fellow Liberians, for the confidence reposed in me. I said in my speech, I will not let you down. I want to thank you for this opportunity to serve you. I will do my best because only my best is required. And so to all of you here, I say: let there be light!”
According to the Ministry of Public Works, the switching of street lights along the EWA Junction to SKD Boulevard parks the beginning of Lot One of the Street Light Project which runs from ELWA junction to Vamoma House Junction. Lot Two of the project encompasses Vamoma-Broad Street to Ducor; while Lot Three covers Johnson Street to Saint Paul Bridge.
With a total cost of US$2.3 million and duration of four months, the street light project, which is completed funded by the Government of Liberia through budgetary support, is not only expected to beautify and add more attractions to Monrovia and its environs, but will most importantly improve the security of the city dwellers, road users, and improve drivers’ visibility during the night hours, while improving night commercial activities, and reducing the night crime rate across the city.
“The street light project is fully funded by this government and implemented completely by Liberians,” the Ministry of Public Works official deputizing for Minister Mobutu Nyenpan stated.
The Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Mr. Samuel Tweah, noted that the street light project is government-funded, consistent with the national budget. “We are trying to squeeze more development partners into this year’s budget because we are trying to find more and more resources so more projects can be done for the Liberian people to benefit,” Minister Tweah stated.