-Over Bility’s Halted Bridge Project
MONROVIA – The House of Representatives has summoned Public Works Minister Roland Giddings to explain his ministry’s controversial stop-order on a community-funded bridge project, setting up a confrontation over development, procedure, and public safety.
Summoned to appear before full plenary next Tuesday, Minister Giddings must justify the halt in construction of the Jor River Bridge—a project intended to provide a critical alternative route for commuters between Ganta, Monrovia, and Gbarnga.
The summons follows a formal communication from Bong County Electoral District #3 Representative, J. Marvin Cole. He argued the ministry’s action risks stalling vital development and negatively impacting citizens. According to Rep. Cole, the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) has secured over US$500,000 to address a four-decade-old infrastructural challenge that has caused significant transportation difficulties and loss of lives.
“This matter must be addressed swiftly to avoid what I term as the ‘weaponization of government functionaries’,” Cole stated, urging his colleagues to prioritize citizen welfare over politics.
The halted project, spearheaded by businessman Musa Hassan Bility’s CMC, aimed to construct a 38-meter bridge connecting the Civil Compound and Jorkpanmue communities. Residents, who have been cut off from each other during rainy seasons for years, have reacted with anger to the stop-order, accusing the government of placing politics above public safety.
However, the Ministry of Public Works maintains the stop-order is a matter of procedure and safety. Minister Giddings confirmed that while CMC submitted design documents, they lacked critical engineering components.
“The submitted documents are devoid of mandatory engineering components, including topography surveys, geotechnical analysis, hydrological assessment, and structural modeling,” Giddings stated. He emphasized that the ministry welcomes citizen participation but is legally obligated to ensure all infrastructure projects meet strict safety standards to prevent structural failure.
The minister further revealed that the government has already allocated funds in its budget and has its own technical plans for the same bridge, insisting that the project must proceed through official development channels to guarantee its integrity.
The House is expected to hear directly from Minister Giddings and his technical team during next Tuesday’s sitting, where the urgent need for the bridge will be weighed against the government’s regulatory mandate.
