Liberia’s long-delayed Gbarnga–Salayea leg of the Gbarnga–Mendikorma Highway has entered a renewed phase of construction, as the Minister of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, conducted a high-level inspection tour this week, signaling the government’s determination to complete one of the country’s most strategic road corridors.
The inspection covered key construction sites along the Lofa road corridor, including the rock-crushing facility at Gbarlatuah in Bong County and active asphalt pavement works now extending beyond Gorlu Town, placing the project approximately 13 kilometers from Salayea. The pavement works are being executed by China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO), the contractor engaged by the Liberian government nearly seven years ago.
Construction stalled in 2023, largely due to financing and logistical challenges, but resumed fully following the contractor’s re-mobilization in October 2025, ending more than two years of inactivity. Project engineers told Minister Ngafuan that asphalt paving has intensified significantly, with a target to reach Salayea before March 2026.
Financing has also been mobilized to extend the pavement further to Konia, marking a major leap toward full connectivity in northern Liberia. Currently, about 300 workers are deployed on the project, down from a peak workforce of nearly 1,000 during earlier construction phases. However, engineers confirmed that additional labor recruitment is expected as work expands along new segments of the corridor.
“This road is moving again, and it is moving with purpose,” one project engineer said during the inspection. Minister Ngafuan reassured engineers and day laborers that funding for the project has been fully secured, emphasizing that the administration remains resolute in completing the road. “This project is not abandoned. The Government of Liberia is committed, the financing is in place, and we expect visible progress,” Ngafuan told workers, while urging them to maintain quality standards and take advantage of favorable weather conditions.
He also praised Public Works Minister Roland L. Giddings and his technical team for sustained oversight, noting that quality assurance remains central to the project’s execution. Providing historical context, Minister Ngafuan recalled that the Gbarnga–Mendikorma highway dates back to 2011, when an initial US$2 million was secured during his first tenure as Finance Minister to conduct a feasibility study.
The project gained momentum under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Vice President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, with early backing from Kuwaiti development partners. However, full financing required a broader coalition of Arab development institutions. This ultimately led to support from the Arab Consortium, including the Saudi Fund for Development, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), and OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID)
Successive finance ministers, Amara Konneh and Boima Kamara, continued negotiations, eventually securing financing for the first phase from Gbarnga to Salayea, a stretch considered vital for trade and mobility in northern Liberia. The Lofa Road Project is regarded as one of Liberia’s most critical infrastructure investments, expected to improve domestic and cross-border trade, reduce transport costs for agricultural produce, and enhance access to healthcare, education, and markets
Lofa County, a major agricultural hub, has long suffered from poor road conditions that isolate communities during the rainy season. Completion of the paved corridor is projected to boost economic activity and regional integration. The inspection tour marked Minister Ngafuan’s first official stop in Lofa County during this visit.
He is also expected to tour major educational and health institutions benefiting from government subsidies, reinforcing the administration’s broader development agenda. As Liberia pushes forward with its infrastructure revival, the revived pace of work on the Gbarnga–Salayea road is emerging as a symbol of renewed momentum, transforming years of planning into tangible progress on the ground.
