-Outgoing Public Works Minister outlines achievements
By G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
Outgoing Minister of Public Works, Ruth Cooker Collins on Thursday, January 18, 2024, outlined her achievements as minister of public works during the presidency of H.E Georgia Manneh Weah.
Stating that as minister of public works, the ministry under her stewardship made significant strides in improving the road sector in Liberia.
The ministry also carried out key reforms in the ministry and the road sector in Liberia.
“I grade myself 100% because as minister of public works, the ministry under my stewardship made significant strides in improving the road sector in Liberia.
And I also carried out key reforms in the ministry and the road sector in Liberia.”
Minister Collins who began work at the Ministry of Public Works in August 2020 as deputy minister of technical services and was subsequently, appointed as minister proper by President Weah in 2022 following the death of then minister Hon. Mobutu Vlah Nyenpan, stated that the ministry under her watch as assistant minister of technical services and minister proper between the period of 2018 to 2023 completed 400Km of roads.
“In total, the Ministry of Public Works was able to pave around 400 km of roads from 2018 to 2023.”
She intimated that when the projects were inherited, her focus as minister was on the completion and not on a signature project.
Instead reached development to places where the contract has already been signed as envisaged by the president
“When we inherited these projects, our focus was completion.
We saw that the development of roads was about continuity, as such we were not focused on initiating what could be called a “signature project” but instead reached development to places the contract have already been signed as envisaged by President George Weah.”
However, Minister Collins intimated that the ministry under her leadership was aware of the road challenges facing Liberia.
Therefore, she initiated some major roads and federal roads in various localities across Liberia.
Minister Collins continued by lauding President Weah for his confidence in her to serve in his government in such a crucial ministry that drives the president’s road agenda.
“My appreciation to H.E. Dr. George Mannah Weah for his confidence reposed in me to serve in his government in such crucial ministry that drives the president’s road agenda.”
Additionally, she takes pride in every work done at the ministry and remains happy that she drove the president’s road agenda to a phenomenal level.
At the same time, she wishes the president-elect, Joseph Nyumah Boakai administration all the very best, especially the would-be successor the very best in driving the road agenda of Liberia to the full achievements.
The outgoing minister further admonished her successor to hire engineers who would make the workings of the ministry achievable.
Therefore, encouraged her would-be successor to be more proactive in receiving project reports by going on the field, to receive the actual progress report of the project that would be in line with the happenings on the field.
“The ministry should hire more engineers to deliver the road agenda of the government.
And the minister should go out to get a hand on the progress report so that the report would not be contradicting from the actual work on the ground.”
She concluded by stating that she remains open to working with the Boakai’s Administration in achieving his road agenda because she is a professional engineer whose work goes beyond political lines.
“Yes, I am a professional engineer and I am open to working with Ambassador Joseph Nyumah Boakai administration because I am a Liberian.”
