Monrovia-June 18, 2021: The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning through Government of Liberia and World Bank has signed three financing agreements worth US 157M.

The Agreement seeks to strengthen the Southeastern Corridor Road Asset Management Project ( SECRAMP), the Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP), as well as the Second Inclusive Growth Development Policy Operation (IGDPO-2).

Speaking at the signing ceremony, held under the auspices of the Ministry of Agriculture, World Bank Country Manager, Dr. Khwima Nthara said the Southeastern Corridor Road Asset Managment Project in the amount of US$62 Million, 41M is an IDA Credit Facility and $21M is a grant from the British and German governments as well as the European Union provided to Liberia through the Liberia Reconstruction Trust Fund (LRTF), managed by the World Bank.

The Rural Economic Transformation Project (RETRAP) covers US$55 Million IDA Credit, while the Second Inclusive Growth Development Policy Operation is US$40M, of which US$20M is an IDA Grant and US$20M is an IDA Credit Facility.

Dr. Nthara applauded the efforts of the Liberian government for structural reforms and intimated that the World Bank-Liberia Partnership is delivering.

Also speaking was Finance and Development Planning Minister and Samuel Tweah, who signed on behalf of the government of Liberia, stressing the need for what he called ” more practical approaches” that find solutions to the age-long problems that confront the country.

He praised World Bank and other bilateral and multilateral partners for the level of support across several facets of the Liberian economy, especially in the area of road connectivity which the government espouses as a flagship pillar of its Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).

Acting Public Works Minister Ruth Coker-Collins said the signing of the additional three financing agreements represents a milestone in the road sector.

The Public Works official could not hold back her excitement, as the ratification of these agreements by the legislature subsequently will witness the pavement of major road corridors in the southeast, with Zwedru in Grand Gedeh County being connected with Tappitta in Nimba County.