Monrovia-July 26, 2021: At the dedication program of the newly constructed Japanese Freeway today, President George Weah cautioned users of the road to maintain it and don’t build any makeshift market alongside the road.

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Here is the full speech below:

SPECIAL MESSAGE BY

HIS EXCELLENCY DR. GEORGE MANNEH WEAH
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA

ON THE OCCASION OF

THE DEDICATION OF THE JAPAN FREEWAY

GARDNERSVILLE TOWNSHIP, MONTSERRADO COUNTY

MONROVIA, LIBERIA

JULY 26, 2021

Her Excellency Madam Clar Marie Dekontee Weah,
First Lady of the Republic of Liberia;

Mr. Speaker and Honorable Members of the House of Representatives;

Mr. President Pro-Tempore and Members of the Senate;

The Dean and Members of the Cabinet;

Officials of Government;

The Doyen and Members of the Diplomatic Corps;

Ambassador of Japan, Mr. Tsutomu Himeno

Our Development Partners;

Political and Business Leaders

Marketers, Students;

Members of the Fourth Estate;

MY FELLOW CITIZENS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
Today marks a major milestone in the development drive to improve our country’s infrastructure. As we gather here today to dedicate this crucial road linking important commercial corridors of Monrovia, we remain committed and steadfast in achieving the deliverables as set forth in the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD).

On behalf of the government and people of Liberia and in my own name, I want to thank the government and people of Japan for this wonderful gift which is being delivered on the occasion marking Liberia’s 174th Independence Day celebration.

The Japan Freeway will bring much needed relief to people of this area who have long struggled with unending traffic congestion. So let me at this point thank my predecessor, former president Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf, for the role she played in the initiation of the project and all those involved in seeing it to completion. This represents one more vital step in confronting the infrastructure deficit our country faces.

During my visit to Japan in 2019 for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and I re-committed our respective governments to continued bilateral cooperation.

Therefore, let me use this opportunity to again reiterate Liberia’s commitment to development cooperation with Japan under the TICAD framework and through direct bilateral engagement. The dedication of this road today is a manifestation of the strong partnership that exists between both countries.

Ambassador Himeno, let me assure you that this relationship will continue to be nurtured under my administration. Japan remains one of our key partners in our development agenda. The Liberian people remain thankful.

Before I take my seat, let me caution all would-be users and members of the communities along this road to help in its maintenance through proper use. We all have a responsibility to maintain the gift which has been given to us. So let us demonstrate our continuous appreciation to the Japanese government and its people through the way in which we take care of this Japan Freeway.

Do not build makeshift market stalls on the road! Do not throw garbage in the gutters and drainage! Do not throw trash on the road! My fellow Liberians, let all of us do our part as responsible citizens.

I Thank you.