National Road Fund -Officer in Charge provides insights at Road Sector Development Plan validation Workshop

The Officer in Charge of the National Road Fund of Liberia, Mrs. Joseta N. Wento, recently attended a Road Sector Development Plan (RSDP) validation workshop aimed at improving the quality of road infrastructure in Liberia. The workshop, which was held in Monrovia, May 10, 2023, brought together key stakeholders in the road sector, including the Ministry of Public Works, World Bank, Liberia National Police, and the Ministry of Transport to discuss strategies for enhancing road network connectivity, improving road safety, and promoting sustainable road infrastructure development.

The Road Sector Development Plan (RSDP) is a tool to inform partners, investors and the government on the road network. The plan also highlighted the funding gaps in the road sector and how the government of Liberia can improve on it. The plan gives a holistic perspective on the cost of road connectivity of all major cities and town across Liberia.

During the workshop, Mrs. Wento highlighted the importance of investing in road infrastructure as a key driver of economic growth and development. She emphasized the need for collaboration between the government, private sector, and development partners to ensure effective implementation of road projects.

In her remarks, Mrs. Wento noted that National Road Fund (NRF) has been instrumental in financing road infrastructure projects across Liberia. She highlighted some of the Road Fund’s recent achievements, including the construction of new roads, rehabilitation of existing ones, and the installation of road safety measures such as streetlights whilst highlighting the need for increased funding to the National Road Fund.

In her remarks as well, the Minister of Public Works, Mrs. Ruth Coker-Collins, expressed gratitude to the World Bank, under whose auspices the LEA Associates Asia Limited was contracted to carry out an in-depth analysis of the needs of the road sector in Liberia. She also noted that improvements in the road sector have “significant potential for unlocking development initiatives across numerous dependent sectors, which could lead to a boost in economic activity”.

John K. Ricardson, Senior Transport Specialist and Task Team Leader, spoke on behalf of the World bank’s initiatives to improve institutional reforms and the road network. He continued by saying that the policy dialogue is geared on easing some of the “stumbling blocks in the road sector”. He reiterated that the policy is to put out a reasonable strategy and incorporate local content. The “plan will respond to the needs of Liberia’s road sector”, he continued.

The workshop also provided an opportunity for stakeholders to review and validate the draft road sector development plan, which outlines the government’s priorities and actions for improving the quality of road infrastructure in Liberia. Participants discussed various issues related to road infrastructure financing, project management, and monitoring and evaluation.

In conclusion, Mrs. Wento expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to participate in the validation workshop and pledged the National Road Fund’s continued support of financing road infrastructure in Liberia. She emphasized that the government of Liberia is intentional in ensuring that the road fund receives all of its fuel levy fund to complete ongoing projects. She urged all stakeholders to work together towards achieving the common goal of better and safer roads in Liberia.

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