By Jamesetta D. Williams
Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has disclosed that President Joseph Nyuma Boakai played a pivotal role in laying the foundation for the construction of the 81-kilometer Gbarnga–Salayea Highway, years before assuming Liberia’s highest office.
Speaking Tuesday, July 28, during the official dedication of the highway in Beyan Town, Lofa County, Minister Ngafuan recounted how President Boakai championed the project while serving as Vice President under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Ngafuan said the highway project dates back to 1989, when Cameroonian engineers prepared the original design. However, the outbreak of Liberia’s civil war halted implementation, leaving the project dormant for years.
According to the Finance Minister, the road gained renewed momentum in 2010 when Liberia was completing the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) debt relief process and seeking financing for major infrastructure projects.
He recalled consulting former President Sirleaf before leading a government delegation to Kuwait to negotiate development financing. During that discussion, Sirleaf acknowledged the importance of completing the Gbarnga–Salayea Highway, describing it as a priority for then-Vice President Joseph Boakai and the people of Lofa County.
Ngafuan revealed that former President Sirleaf entrusted him with the original engineering designs for the project and instructed the delegation to work closely with Boakai before departing for Kuwait.
“We met with Vice President Boakai before the trip, and he gave us his full support,” Ngafuan recounted. “Armed with the project’s designs and his endorsement, we traveled to Kuwait and successfully secured the financing agreement that laid the groundwork for this road.”
He noted that representatives of the Kuwaiti Fund who participated in the negotiations more than a decade ago remain connected to the project today, highlighting the enduring partnership between Liberia and the fund.
The Finance Minister also paid tribute to the many public servants and technical experts whose dedication ensured the project’s completion. He recognized the late Deputy Minister of Public Works Victor Smith, senior public official Emmanuel Baker, Public Works Minister Roland Lafayette Giddings, and Representative Tapalah Zuo for their contributions at various stages of the project.
Ngafuan described the dedication of the Gbarnga–Salayea Highway as the fulfillment of a vision sustained through years of leadership, diplomacy, and institutional commitment.
He said the completion of the road demonstrates that long-term planning, consistent political will, and strong international partnerships can deliver transformative infrastructure projects that improve connectivity, promote economic growth, and enhance the lives of Liberians.
The newly dedicated highway is expected to improve transportation between Bong and Lofa counties, facilitate trade, increase access to markets and public services, and strengthen regional economic development.
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