QATAR GOVT. MAKING PLANS TO FINANCE LOFA ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN LIBERIA

As part of efforts to curtail the mountainous constraints confronting the over 300,000 residents in northern Liberia due to bad road conditions, the Emir of the Gulf state, in Qatar, Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani, has committed to providing additional funding for the second phase of pavement of the Gbarnga-Mendikorma Highway (Lofa Road) project.

Since 1964, Lofa, which is considered the “bread basket” of Liberia has suffered from the deplorable nature of its road.

Before its worsened road condition, a huge percentage of crops or produce, including rice, plantain, and ground nuts consumed by citizens and other foreign residents were planted and harvested in Lofa and marketed in Monrovia and other nearby counties.

But currently, citizens, mostly commuters plying the route during the rainy season are constrained to spend several nights in passenger or private vehicles stuck in the mud while commuting due to the dilapidated condition of the road.

As a result of the situation, the prices of basic commodities, produce and others continue to skyrocket, thereby imposing more hardship and suffering on the already impoverished masses.

Farmers transporting their crops or products from and to marketplaces continue to experience huge losses as a result of the bad road condition, making them lose their previous title of being the bread basket to providing food for the nation and its people These produce rot before reaching the market places.

The vast majority of citizens hailing from Lofa, who are residing in Monrovia and other parts of the country, do not go back to their hometown frequently as compared to others due to the situation.

Though Lofa remains the second most populated county in Liberia next to Montserrado, bad road connectivity remains a major problem that is also hampering infrastructural and economic growth and development in the county.

Access to basic social services is rare, making the county to be one of the least developed in post-conflict Liberia despite producing Vice Presidents and other top government officials for several decades.

SOURCE: Frontpage