ECOWAS holds technical steering committee meeting on road development program

The ECOWAS Commission, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Mano River Union (MRU), convened the 7th Joint Technical Steering Committee Meeting of the Multinational: Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Liberia Road Development & Transport Facilitation Programme within the Mano River Union (MRU) in Monrovia, Liberia from July 9 to 10, 2024.

The two-day meeting gathered representatives from Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Liberia, alongside officials from the ECOWAS Commission, the MRU Secretariat, and the African Development Bank (AfDB). The agenda focused on reviewing project progress, addressing constraints and challenges, and formulating strategies to expedite implementation.

Mr. Chris Appiah, Acting Director of Transport at the ECOWAS Commission, represented by Mr. Ashoke Maliki, Project Manager, welcomed attendees to the meeting. He emphasized that successful implementation relies on expert commitment to various project components including road rehabilitation and bridge construction over Cavalla River. He encouraged member states to openly discuss their challenges in hopes of finding solutions.

H.E. Madam Josephine Nkrumah, Resident Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, noted significant progress on key components such as designing two Joint Border Posts (JPBs) at Prollo and Gbaplue and constructing a bridge over Cavalla River. She announced that contracts for bridge construction have been awarded with physical work set to begin in September 2024 and expected completion within 24 months.

“This regional project will no doubt benefit road users, transporters, farmers, the programme area inhabitants and especially disadvantaged groups (women and children), which constitute the greater majority in the programme area,” she stated.

The Multinational Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Liberia: Road Development and Transport Facilitation Programme aims to pave 276.35 km of roads linking Danané-Lola (87.35 km); Bloléquin-Toulépleu-Liberian border (65 km); Tabou-Prollo/Cavally (28 km); Karloken-Fish Town (80 km); and Harper Junction-Cavally (16 km) to enhance traffic capacity year-round.

Financed by AfDB, this program is designed to reduce poverty while promoting agriculture and intra-regional trade among member states. It forms part of ECOWAS's priority development initiatives for the region.