Monrovia, Liberia – The Director of Portfolio Management for the Public Sector at the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), Mourad Bouaou, on Tuesday held high-level and productive discussions with Minister of Finance and Development Planning Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and Minister of Public Works Roland Lafayette Giddings on the continuous financing and accelerated implementation of the Gbarnga–Mendikorma Highway Project.
The meeting reaffirmed OFID’s long-standing commitment to Liberia’s road infrastructure development, as the institution is one of the original Arab lenders financing the highway project, which is considered a critical regional corridor linking central Liberia to the northwest.
According to information from the engagement, discussions focused heavily on speeding up the implementation of the Salayea leg of the highway, which has experienced delays due to financial and logistical constraints. The Salayea section is considered one of the most challenging portions of the corridor but is vital for improving connectivity between Bong and Lofa counties.
In addition to accelerating construction on the Salayea stretch, the talks also addressed the mobilization of additional financing from the OPEC Fund and other Arab development lenders to support the next phase of the project, specifically the Salayea–Konia–Konia–Voinjama leg of the highway. This segment is expected to further strengthen trade, agricultural transport, and regional mobility across northern Liberia.
Government officials underscored the importance of the highway to the national development agenda, noting that upon completion, the full Gbarnga–Mendikorma corridor will significantly reduce travel time, enhance market access for farmers, boost cross-border trade, and improve the delivery of social services to rural communities.
The Voinjama–Mendikorma leg of the highway, which represents another critical link of the corridor, is to be financed under the PAVITO Agreement, which is currently before the National Legislature for ratification. Once approved, the agreement is expected to unlock full funding for that section and allow construction activities to commence without delay.
The engagement between OFID and senior Liberian officials signals renewed momentum for the long-delayed highway project, which successive governments have described as a strategic national priority for economic growth, regional integration, and poverty reduction.
With renewed financing discussions now underway and legislative action pending on the PAVITO agreement, stakeholders remain optimistic that the Gbarnga–Mendikorma Highway will soon experience a major construction push, bringing long-awaited relief to thousands of road users and communities along the corridor.
Reported by: David Yates
