By Jerromie S. Walters
LOFA COUNTY — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Chinese Ambassador Yin Chengwu and other dignitaries formally dedicated the 81-kilometer Gbarnga–Salayea Road Project Tuesday, July 28, 2026, delivering a long-awaited infrastructural lifeline to Liberia’s Northern Corridor just as the nation marks its 179th Independence Day.
The commissioning ceremony, attended by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, lawmakers, cabinet ministers, and local leaders in Lofa County, marks a major milestone in regional connectivity and economic integration between Bong and Lofa counties.
The newly paved highway was constructed by the China Henan International Cooperation Group (CHICO) alongside local Liberian engineers and subcontractors. It aims to slash transportation costs, boost agricultural trade, and advance President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
Delivering a special remark at the ceremony, Ambassador Yin highlighted the profound socio-economic impact the corridor will have on ordinary citizens. “Infrastructure is one of the cornerstones of economic and social development,” Ambassador Yin stated. “Better roads improve connectivity, facilitate trade, lower transportation costs, expand access to markets, create jobs, and make people’s daily lives easier.”
Serving as a key artery for the nation, the 81-kilometer stretch is expected to stimulate agricultural production, lower barriers to commercial enterprise, and usher in sustainable economic growth. Citing a well-known development maxim, the Ambassador added: “If you want to get rich, build roads first.”
The project’s completion marks a tangible victory for the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. Ambassador Yin lauded the Liberian government’s leadership over the past two and a half years in driving forward the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
The successful delivery of the highway underscores the government’s unwavering commitment to tangible infrastructure upgrades that directly enhance public well-being and bridge regional divides. Officials from the Ministry of Public Works and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning were similarly commended for their oversight throughout the project’s lifecycle.
The inauguration also serves as a vibrant testament to the diplomatic and economic rapport between Beijing and Monrovia. Building upon the high-level consensus reached between President Xi Jinping and President Boakai at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), bilateral cooperation has steadily entered a new phase of strategic partnership.
Ambassador Yin emphasized that the project reflects the trust placed in Chinese enterprises by the Liberian government, as well as the technical execution of CHICO and its local partners. “The close cooperation between the Chinese team and Liberian subcontractors, engineers, and workers made this project possible,” he noted, praising it as a reflection of mutual respect, local participation, and shared success.
Looking forward, the Chinese envoy reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to open cooperation, encouraging capable enterprises to continue investing in Liberia’s modernization, local job creation, and skills transfer.
Addressing the gathering of citizens, dignitaries, and international partners, President Boakai hailed the dual celebration of completing the Gbarnga–Salayea corridor while simultaneously securing the future of regional transit.
“Today marks another defining moment in Liberia’s journey of renewal and transformation. We gather not only to dedicate the newly completed 81-kilometre Gbarnga-Salayea Road, but also to witness the signing of financing agreements for the Salayea-Konia and Zorzor-Yeala road projects,” President Boakai declared in his special remarks.
The President extended deep appreciation to the Arab Coordinating Group—including BADEA, the OPEC Fund, the Saudi Fund for Development, and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development—for their confidence in Liberia’s development trajectory. “Your investments are building far more than roads; they are creating opportunities for farmers, traders, students, businesses, and families,” Boakai emphasized.
“These roads will connect communities, expand economic opportunities, strengthen regional integration, and improve the quality of life of our people,” he added. The Liberian leader urged stakeholders to ensure that all upcoming and ongoing infrastructural undertakings are delivered with excellence, transparency, and strict adherence to schedules under the umbrella of the ARREST Agenda.
