Public works Minister Giddings
By Jamesetta D. Williams
Monrovia-Public Works Minister Roland Giddings has touted the government’s gains in road infrastructures, as the government’s ambition to pave 700 kilometers of primary roads across Liberia by 2029 is facing growing questions about project completion, financial accountability, construction standards, and the protection of citizens’ property rights.
While the government presents the reported achievement as progress in its infrastructure development agenda, several major road projects remain under construction, others are awaiting financing and procurement, and some have completion dates extending into 2027 and beyond.
For thousands of Liberians who continue to struggle with poor road conditions, high transportation costs, limited access to markets, and difficulties reaching hospitals and schools, the central concern is whether the government’s ambitious infrastructure commitments will translate into lasting improvements in their daily lives.
Addressing Ministry of Information press briefing Tuesday, Minister Giddings
outlined the government’s road construction achievements, ongoing infrastructure projects, institutional reforms, and new regulations intended to strengthen the construction sector.
According to Giddings, the 164 kilometers added to Liberia’s paved road network comprise approximately 150 kilometers of primary roads and 14 kilometers of urban and community roads.
He identified several completed or improved road sections, including the Sanniquellie-to-Tapeta corridor in Nimba County, the Ganta-to-Saclepea road, sections of the Zwedru-to-Fish Town corridor, and community roads in Monrovia and other parts of the country.
However, questions remain about the individual completion status of the reported roads, their construction costs, and whether independent engineering assessments have confirmed that they meet the required standards.
The ministry has also not provided a detailed public breakdown of the expenditure associated with each completed road section during the briefing.
Looking ahead, Giddings said the Ministry of Public Works is working toward paving approximately 485 kilometers of primary roads and 125 kilometers of urban and community roads by 2029.
However, he disclosed that ongoing and planned projects could increase the primary road target to approximately 700 kilometers.
For 2027, the ministry is targeting an additional 100 kilometers of primary roads and 91 kilometers of urban and community roads.
The planned developments include road construction in several county capitals and cities, including Buchanan, Greenville, Zwedru, Harper, and Robertsport.
The minister said approximately two kilometers of streets in Buchanan is expected to receive initial pavement, with further construction planned as the program progresses.
Despite these targets, the availability of funding, contractors’ capacity, project supervision, and timely completion remain important issues that will determine whether the government can achieve its commitments.
Giddings disclosed that 22 primary road corridors, covering approximately 1,191 kilometers, are currently at different stages of implementation.
Of that number, 15 corridors covering approximately 663.5 kilometers are undergoing construction, while five corridors covering 229.55 kilometers are at procurement and design stages for civil works expected in 2027.
Two additional major corridors covering approximately 298.6 kilometers are awaiting approval from the African Development Bank and the World Bank.
Among the major projects highlighted are the Sanniquellie-to-Tapeta, Ganta-to-Saclepea, Tapeta-to-Toetown, Toetown-to-Zwedru, and Fishtown-to-Karloken road corridors.
The minister said the Sanniquellie-to-Tapeta road, covering approximately 61 kilometers, is expected to be completed during the current dry season between November and December 2026.
He disclosed that approximately 43 kilometers of the Ganta-to-Saclepea corridor have been paved, with completion expected in April 2027.
The Tapeta-to-Toetown corridor, covering approximately 40 kilometers, is expected to begin civil works in November 2027, while the Toetown-to-Zwedru corridor, covering approximately 75 kilometers, is undergoing detailed design work.
Giddings also said the government intends to complete the remaining pavement works on the Kelly-to-Fish Town and Fish Town-to-Karloken corridors, including the final asphalt layer and road markings.
He explained that some sections currently have only the binder course, which is the initial asphalt layer, and require the final wearing course before they can be fully completed.
The minister also provided updates on several road projects in southeastern Liberia and along the coastal corridor.
He said the government is working with private-sector partners under a public-private partnership arrangement to improve sections of the coastal road network.
Under the arrangement, the private partner is expected to provide 60 percent of the financing, while the government will contribute 40 percent.
Giddings identified sections including St. Paul Bridge-to-Clay, Clay-to-B. Waterside, and other routes connecting communities toward Robertsport.
He said the government is targeting approximately 30 kilometers of pavement between St. Paul Bridge and Clay Junction by December 2027.
For the Vlantor-to-Mini-Koma corridor, the minister disclosed that approximately 35 kilometers are expected to be paved by December 2027, subject to the availability of resources.
The Robertsport road project, covering approximately 42.5 kilometers, is also progressing.
According to him, SSF West Africa is handling the first section of approximately 12.5 kilometers, while another contractor is responsible for the remaining 30 kilometers.
He said approximately four kilometers of the first section have already been paved, with the contractor targeting 10 kilometers by January 2027.
Giddings said improving access to Robertsport would create opportunities for tourism, electricity expansion, and economic investment in the coastal city.
One of the major issues addressed during the briefing was the management of funds allocated to inherited road projects.
Giddings criticized the previous administration’s handling of certain infrastructure projects, alleging that substantial loan proceeds were disbursed directly to contractors before corresponding construction milestones had been achieved.
He claimed that approximately US$80 million in loans had been secured, followed by an additional US$21 million, while significant payments were reportedly made despite limited physical progress.
According to the minister, the current administration inherited the project with substantial funds already disbursed, although construction progress remained low.
He described the previous financial arrangements as problematic, arguing that contractors should receive payments based on verified construction milestones rather than large advance disbursements.
The minister said the government has since strengthened financial management procedures by requiring independent consultants to verify construction milestones before payments are made.
However, the allegations raise important questions about the extent of the reported financial irregularities, whether an independent audit has established the actual amount of money spent, and whether anyone found responsible will be held accountable.
The public also deserves to know how much additional funding is required to complete the inherited projects and what measures are being taken to prevent similar financial management problems.
Giddings said the government is working with the Ministry of Finance to identify additional resources to complete the project, expressing optimism that it could be completed by 2027 or 2028.
He maintained that the government had taken responsibility for correcting the problems rather than abandoning the project.
Beyond road construction, Giddings announced several Cabinet-endorsed regulations intended to improve infrastructure development, increase local participation, and strengthen enforcement of construction standards.
Under Regulation 001-MPW-2026, contracts for laterite and concrete road construction and maintenance will be reserved exclusively for Liberian-owned companies.
The minister said the policy is intended to increase the participation of Liberian businesses in the construction sector.
However, questions remain about what qualifies a company as Liberian-owned, whether small and emerging construction businesses will have equal opportunities, and how the ministry intends to prevent political favoritism in awarding contracts.
Regulation 002-MPW-2026 establishes a contractor classification and certification system intended to assess registered contractors and consultants based on technical capacity, financial strength, experience, and legal compliance.
Meanwhile, Regulation 003-MPW-2026 establishes standardized right-of-way measurements for primary, secondary, neighborhood, and rural roads.
The regulation is expected to guide road surveying, demarcation, land acquisition, and compensation for affected property owners.
However, the proposed enforcement measures could have significant implications for residents and businesses operating along existing road corridors.
Property owners will want to know how the government intends to determine boundaries, whether affected residents will receive adequate notice, and how compensation will be calculated and paid.
There are also concerns about how disputes involving land ownership and properties legally acquired before the regulation will be handled.
The ministry will need to ensure that enforcement does not result in arbitrary demolitions or displacement without proper legal procedures and fair compensation.
Another regulation announced by the minister addresses the management and remediation of abandoned buildings and properties.
Under the proposed measure, buildings that remain unoccupied, unsecured, or in significant disrepair for more than 12 consecutive months may be classified as abandoned.
Property owners would be required to submit rehabilitation plans after receiving official notice.
Failure to comply could attract a monthly fine of US$500. After six months of non-compliance, the government could proceed with demolition or compulsory acquisition through the appropriate legal processes, subject to fair compensation and due process.
Giddings said the regulation is intended to address the growing number of abandoned buildings, particularly in central Monrovia, which he believes contribute to sanitation, drainage, and other urban management challenges.
However, the proposed regulation raises questions about how abandoned properties will be identified, how owners living outside Liberia will be notified, and what legal mechanisms will be available to challenge decisions.
The public will also want assurances that the government will apply the regulation fairly and consistently without targeting individual property owners.
The minister also announced Regulation 005-MPW-2026, which establishes requirements for private citizens and organizations seeking to finance and implement public infrastructure projects.
He explained that although the government does not have sufficient resources to finance every infrastructure project, private individuals, organizations, and lawmakers cannot independently undertake public construction without the necessary technical authorization.
According to Giddings, all public infrastructure projects, including those undertaken by government ministries and agencies, must receive approval from the Ministry of Public Works.
The ministry is expected to review project designs, authorize construction, and supervise implementation to ensure that projects meet approved engineering standards.
He cited concerns surrounding a bridge project in Bong County as an example of why government authorization and technical supervision are necessary.
The regulation raises questions about how quickly approvals will be processed, whether the requirements will discourage private investment, and how the ministry will ensure that technical supervision is not used to delay legitimate community development initiatives.
Addressing longstanding complaints from contractors and suppliers about delays in processing transactions, Giddings announced administrative reforms intended to improve efficiency at the ministry.
He said the Ministry of Public Works introduced an Introspective Dialogue in July 2025 to engage contractors and identify challenges affecting service delivery.
Following a review in October 2026, the ministry developed a Standard Operating Procedure for internal transaction processes.
According to the minister, the procedure covers seven major administrative processes, including procurement, small purchases, and payment processing.
He said the reforms reduced approval procedures from 88 to 57, representing a reduction of 31 steps, or approximately 35 percent.
The ministry also established a contract management framework requiring proper technical, legal, and procurement reviews throughout the life of public infrastructure contracts.
Giddings said the framework is intended to ensure that contracts are properly managed from initiation to completion and that changes to project designs, bills of quantities, and other contractual requirements receive appropriate authorization.
The ministry has also introduced procedures requiring contractors’ bank guarantees to be verified directly with issuing banks.
Additionally, reminders will be issued 90, 60, 30, and 14 days before guarantees expire to prevent delays resulting from expired contractual securities.
The minister said the reforms are intended to strengthen internal auditing, improve financial oversight, and ensure that public funds are protected.
He disclosed that the reforms were presented to contractors and consultants during the second edition of the ministry’s Efficient Service Delivery Introspective Dialogue on October 21, 2026.
However, their success will ultimately depend on whether contractors receive timely payments, projects are completed faster, and financial records become more transparent.
In another major infrastructure announcement, Giddings disclosed that the World Bank has accepted the proposed Liberia Legacy Economic Corridor, a 238-kilometer road project intended to connect Grand Bassa, Bong, and Nimba counties.
He said a US$2 million grant is supporting the design phase, with consultants currently working on the proposed road network.
The project is expected to improve transportation links among the three counties, strengthen agricultural activities, and create better access to commercial markets.
According to the minister, the corridor will allow travelers and commercial operators to move between the counties more easily without relying solely on routes through Monrovia.
However, actual construction is expected to begin around 2029, meaning communities along the proposed corridor may have to wait several years before seeing physical construction.
Citizens will want to know the project’s total estimated cost, its financing arrangements, the communities it will serve, and the specific economic benefits expected from the investment.
Giddings also provided updates on several bridge projects across the country.
He said eight new contracts were expected to be commissioned in November 2026, covering substructure works for 15 bridges in Grand Bassa, Lofa, Nimba, and Bong counties.
He highlighted the proposed Kavala River Bridge, which is expected to strengthen transportation and trade links between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire.
The minister said the bridge would create new opportunities for agricultural development and commercial activities between the two countries.
However, he expressed concern that illegal mining activities along riverbanks are threatening the foundations of some bridges and other infrastructure.
He warned that uncontrolled mining could weaken bridge structures and damage road networks, calling for stronger enforcement to protect public investments.
The concerns raise questions about how the government intends to regulate mining activities near critical infrastructure and whether existing enforcement mechanisms are sufficient to prevent further damage.
Despite the ministry’s reported achievements and ambitious infrastructure plans, the success of Liberia’s road development agenda will ultimately depend on more than kilometers announced at press briefings.
For residents, farmers, business operators, motorists, and commuters, the most important measures of progress remain accessible roads, reduced transportation costs, improved safety, reliable bridges, and better connections to hospitals, schools, and markets.
The government must also demonstrate that public funds are properly managed, contractors deliver according to approved specifications, and communities affected by infrastructure development are treated fairly.
As the Ministry of Public Works moves toward its 2029 targets, citizens will be watching to see whether the announced reforms and construction commitments produce measurable improvements across the country.
The challenge facing the ministry is not only to build more roads, but to ensure that those roads are completed on time, meet acceptable standards, protect citizens’ rights, and deliver lasting benefits to the Liberian people.
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