IPNEWS: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. on Tuesday, July 28, 2026, dedicated the newly completed 81-kilometer Gbarnga–Salayea Road Corridor and officially break ground for the construction of the 50-kilometer Salayea–Konia Road and the 6-kilometer Zorzor–Yeala Road, marking another major milestone in Liberia’s ambitious national infrastructure modernization agenda.
The ceremony, scheduled to take place at the Bong–Lofa County Border Rest Station, will bring together senior government officials, local authorities, traditional leaders, citizens, and representatives of the Arab Coordination Group, including the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), the OPEC Fund for International Development, and the Saudi Fund for Development.
The event represents one of the most significant infrastructure milestones under the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), the Boakai Administration’s national development blueprint aimed at accelerating economic transformation, improving public services, and strengthening regional integration.
The completion of the 81-kilometer Gbarnga–Salayea Road dramatically improves travel between Bong and Lofa Counties, reducing travel time, lowering transportation costs, and improving access for thousands of commuters, farmers, traders, students, and healthcare workers.
The newly approved 56-kilometer road package, consisting of the 50-kilometer Salayea–Konia Road and the 6-kilometer Zorzor–Yeala Road, represents the next phase of Liberia’s northern transport corridor development.
Once completed, the projects will enhance movement of agricultural products, stimulate cross-border trade with neighboring Guinea, increase private sector investment, and improve access to education, healthcare, and government services for communities throughout Lofa County.
The Government of Liberia, under the leadership of Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, successfully mobilized US$72.8 million in concessional financing from the OPEC Fund, BADEA, and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to finance the road projects.
The financing underscores growing international confidence in Liberia’s economic management and development agenda, reflecting the government’s efforts to strengthen partnerships with multilateral and bilateral development institutions.
In another major breakthrough, the Government has secured a financing commitment from the Saudi Fund for Development to pave the remaining 64-kilometer Konia–Voinjama Road, completing one of Liberia’s most strategically important transportation corridors.
The completed corridor will provide uninterrupted paved road access across much of Lofa County while strengthening commercial and social links with neighboring Guinea, a key regional trading partner.
Collectively, the completed and planned road projects cover more than 200 kilometers of strategic highway infrastructure across Bong and Lofa Counties.
Construction to Begin During the Dry Season
Government officials say construction of the newly approved corridors is expected to commence during the upcoming dry season.
Beyond improving transportation, the projects are expected to generate hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, stimulate local businesses, expand agricultural markets, encourage tourism, and increase investment opportunities throughout northern Liberia.
Infrastructure experts have consistently noted that improved road networks significantly reduce logistics costs, increase rural productivity, and strengthen national economic competitiveness.
The road investments are complemented by another major infrastructure initiative.
The Government has secured an additional US$49.6 million from the Saudi Fund for Development to finance the Botota–Gbarnga–Zorzor Transmission Line and Substation Project.
The electricity project is expected to expand access to reliable power for thousands of households and businesses in central and northern Liberia, supporting industrial development, small enterprises, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities while advancing Liberia’s long-term energy security objectives.
According to national energy data, electricity access in Liberia has risen significantly in recent years but remains among the lowest in West Africa, making continued investment in transmission infrastructure a national priority.
Recognizing that infrastructure development extends beyond transportation, the Government has also secured a US$700,000 grant from BADEA to renovate, rehabilitate, and equip the Salayea Clinic and the Konia Health Center.
The healthcare investment is expected to improve access to quality medical services for thousands of residents living along the road corridor while strengthening Liberia’s rural health delivery system.
Road infrastructure remains one of Liberia’s most pressing development priorities. Following years of civil conflict that devastated much of the country’s transport network, successive governments have invested heavily in reconnecting counties and improving access to markets and public services.
The Boakai Administration has made infrastructure one of the cornerstones of its development strategy, arguing that modern roads, reliable electricity, and improved healthcare facilities are essential for attracting investment, creating jobs, reducing poverty, and promoting inclusive economic growth.
Officials say the latest investments demonstrate Liberia’s continued success in mobilizing international development financing through sound fiscal management, strategic diplomacy, and strengthened partnerships with global development institutions.
As President Boakai dedicates the Gbarnga–Salayea Road and launches the next phase of the northern corridor, the projects are expected to transform mobility, strengthen regional trade, improve service delivery, and accelerate economic development across Lofa County and Liberia’s northern region for decades to come
