IPNEWS: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has broken ground for a major electricity expansion project targeting Bomi, Gbarpolu and Grand Cape Mount Counties, renewing his administration’s promise to extend development beyond Monrovia.
However, the initiative faces expectations of timely implementation, transparency and improved access to electricity for underserved communities.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday, November 6, 2026 at the Commissioner Compound in Clay, Bomi County, where President Boakai declared that “no county will be left in the dark.”
The project is intended to address years of electricity exclusion affecting rural communities across the three counties.
The initiative will extend Liberia’s national electricity grid from Tubmanburg to Bopolu City in Gbarpolu County, connecting communities along the route.
Additional transmission infrastructure will extend from Sawmill in Gbarpolu County to Lofa Bridge, while electricity will also reach Kinjor and surrounding communities in Grand Cape Mount County.
According to the project’s specifications, approximately 7,033 households, schools, clinics and businesses are expected to benefit, covering an estimated 35,165 people.
The initiative includes the construction of 101 kilometers of 33-kilovolt overhead distribution lines and 86 kilometers of secondary distribution networks across 18 towns.
The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) says the project will be financed entirely through its own resources and implemented by 12 Liberian contractors across 14 project lots.
While the government has presented the initiative as a major development milestone, questions surrounding execution, maintenance and the affordability of electricity remain important considerations for communities expected to benefit.
President Boakai described electricity as essential to agricultural production, education, healthcare, public safety and economic investment.
He said the project aligns with the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and its commitment to achieving 75 percent national electricity access by 2030 under the Mission 300 National Energy Compact.
President Boakia also reaffirmed his administration’s ambition to manufacture transformers locally, while commending LEC’s Board of Directors, management and employees for mobilizing resources for the expansion.
He disclosed that the corporation currently serves more than 400,000 customers and continues to connect additional households and businesses.
Despite the promises, Boakai cautioned that the groundbreaking ceremony must lead to tangible results, warning LEC and contractors against delays and poor-quality work.
He demanded accountability for public and institutional resources, stressing that every dollar invested in the project must be properly accounted for.
The President called on legislative caucuses, county superintendents and local authorities to cooperate with LEC by securing rights of way and keeping residents informed throughout implementation.
He also urged communities to protect electricity infrastructure against vandalism, cable theft and illegal connections.
Boakai further warned that electricity consumers must pay their bills to sustain the corporation’s operations and support future expansion.
However, the government’s emphasis on payment also raises the importance of ensuring that electricity services remain accessible and affordable to rural households, particularly those facing economic hardship.
The President said the project should mark a broader national commitment to ensuring that geographical location does not determine access to essential infrastructure and economic opportunities.
He urged residents to support the initiative and called for its successful completion.
Government officials attending the ceremony included LEC Managing Director Mohammed Sherif, Senate Energy Committee Chairman Edwin Melvin Snowe, Bomi County Legislative Caucus Chairman Senator J. Alex Tyler, and Bomi County Superintendent Sam Zinnah.
