Salayea, Lofa- The Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, on Tuesday, January 6, conducted a brief inspection tour of ongoing road construction works along the Lofa road corridor.
The contractor hired by the Liberian government about seven years ago to undertake the pavement works is CHiCO.
The tour took the Minister to several key sites, including the rock crusher at Gbarlatuah in Bong County and active asphalt pavement works, which has now passed Gorlu Town in Lofa County, about 13 kilometers to Salayea.
CHICO recently re-mobilized for the resumption of the project. Construction works on the road came to a halt since 2023.
Asphalt paving activities along the corridor have now intensified since the resumption of works.
Project engineers assured Minister Ngafuan that pavement works will reach Salayea before March 2026 with financing already mobilized to extend the pavement further to Konia.
They disclosed that approximately 300 workers are currently engaged on the project, down from a previous workforce of about 1,000, but noted that additional hiring is expected as construction activities expand.
The renewed pace of work follows the contractor’s full return to the field in October 2025 after more than two years of inactivity.
During the visit, Minister Ngafuan engaged engineers and local day laborers, commending them for their dedication and for contributing meaningfully to the development of the country.
He reaffirmed the Government of Liberia’s strong commitment to completing the project and assured workers that financing for the road has been secured.
He also expressed hope that favorable weather conditions will allow construction to proceed without further delays.
Minister Ngafuan also lauded his colleague, Public Works Minister Roland L. Giddings and his team at the Ministry of Public Works, for the follow-up efforts and ensuring that the ongoing works are being executed at top quality.
The Minister provided historical context on the project, recalling that during his first tenure as Finance Minister, an initial US$2 million was secured to finance the feasibility study for the Gbarnga-Mendikorma highway in 2011.
Following the study, the project was advanced under the guidance of then President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
He explained that while early support was received from Kuwaiti partners, full financing required the involvement of additional Arab development institutions.
This led to the mobilization of support from the Arab Consortium, including the Saudi Fund, BADEA, and the OPEC Fund for International Development.
Subsequent Finance Ministers Amara Konneh and Boima Kamara, continued the process and ultimately mobilized the required financing for the first phase of the road (from Gbarnga to Salayea).
Minister Ngafuan welcomed the contractor’s remobilization and expressed confidence that the renewed momentum will deliver visible and sustained progress in the coming months.
The Lofa Road project remains a critical national infrastructure priority, aimed at improving connectivity, boosting trade, and expanding access to social services across Lofa County and neighboring regions.
The inspection of progress on the Gbarnga-Salayea pavement works constituted the first stop on Minister Ngafuan’s vist to Lofa County.
He is expected to also visit major educational and health institutions in the county receiving government subsidies.
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