By: Anthony Q. Jiffan, II
The Minister of Public Works, Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan, says progress has been made in the construction of community roads in the country; discloses that there are funding already available for the implementation of community roads in Montserrado, Grand Bassa and Bong Counties.
Minister Nyenpan, noting that his administration will work diligently to fulfill the priorities of President George Weah, vows to connect the country with road as pledged by the President.
He indicated that fulfillment of the dream by the president to connect the entire Liberia with roads rests upon him as a Minister of Public of Works for the benefit of the people.
The Public Works Minister made the assertion Wednesday, 14 November 2018, when he inspected road works in Monrovia and its surroundings to acquaint himself with the basic facts, challenges, funding requirements and progress made on the projects.
Among those areas visited was the Doe community; the St. Michael vicinity in Gardnerville; Logan Town Broad Street; Barnesville Estate; Battery Factory; Kpelleh Town; and TB Annex on the SD Cooper Road in Paynesville, amongst others.
Minister Nyenpan said the tour was his first major inspection of projects in and around Monrovia since the beginning of these projects, indicating that the exercise was good.
He noted that the Ministry of Public Works put together of technocrats of top engineers and assigned them on these various projects.
Minister Nyenpan furthered that since the establishment of Liberia, there has been no attention given to community roads, a barrier he said president Weah is ready to break so as to change the thought that community roads are always dusty or muddy in Liberia.
“Since this Country was founded how many community roads across the country have been paved; this president will be first to paved almost all community roads in Liberia” Min. Nyenpan said.
Nyenpan, who is upbeat about the progress made on those projects, described same as good beginning for the new administration of the Ministry of Public Works; saying for instance that the completion of Logan Town Broad street road will ease traffic congestion in that part of the city.
Minister Nyenpan also said President Weah is under obligation to meet the needs of Liberians who overwhelmingly supported him; noting, “it is about time that he proves himself worthy of the trust reposed him by the people.”
Meanwhile, the Minister has rejected claims by the Youth League of the Coalition for Democratic Change that he is undermining the Government’s Pro Poor Agenda by breaking down homes of less-privileged Liberians in the process of roads construction.
He said the claim was intended to make him clarify those things that appear to create doubts in the minds of many Liberians, including the Youth League of the CDC as to the roads, especially in the case where houses are built in the alleyway.
The Public Works Minister indicated that the young people of the Coalition have their right to raise a concern when there is doubt in their minds, added that it has given more strength to his work.