– Pres. Boakai Breaks Ground on China-Aid Overpass Bridges as Scrutiny Intensifies
Jerromie S. Walters Writes
Monrovia, Liberia — On September 2, 2025, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. broke ground for the construction of two China-aided overpass bridges along Tubman Boulevard, framing the project as a milestone in infrastructure, mobility, and national development. The ceremony in Congo Town, however, coincides with renewed questions about project ownership, cost, timetable, and the broader strategy of relying on foreign-financed roads.
Political Tug-of-War Over Project Ownership
More than a year into Boakai’s presidency, heavyweights from the Unity Party and the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) are locked in a dispute over who “owns” the project’s political credit. Unity Party supporters insist the initiative began under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, while CDC figures note that the formal signing occurred during President George Weah’s tenure, suggesting a potential political convenience in righting a stalled project.
A June 8, 2021 Memorandum of Understanding published by the Ministry of Public Works has become a touchstone for this argument:
“Based on the Exchange of Letters signed on September 9, 2019 by and between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Liberia, the Chinese Government has finally agreed to undertake Two China-Aid Overpass Bridges Project along the Tubman Boulevard in Liberia.”
The agreement mentions “friendly consultations and full exchanges of ideas,” but the public record provides few details about scope, costs, or risk-sharing. Observers point to diplomatic tensions during the Weah era—namely Liberia’s vote against China on UN human rights issues—as a likely contributor to a pause in progress, raising concerns about whether the restart reflects genuine development planning or political optics.
Cost, Financing, and Accountability Questions
– Funding and risk: The article and brief public disclosures say little about total project cost, interest terms, currency risk, maintenance responsibilities, and contingency allocations. Critics argue that Chinese-financed projects can shift long-term burdens to Liberia’s budget or future administrations, with limited local procurement transparency.
– Governance: Questions persist about how decisions were made, who signed the contracts, and what independent oversight exists. Without robust, independent financial and technical audits, challenges—ranging from cost overruns to procurement irregularities—could erode public trust.
– Local impact: The narrative highlights traffic relief and economic benefits but provides scant assessment of displacement, land acquisition, or short-term disruptions to CongTown and other communities. Questions remain about how affected residents and businesses were consulted and compensated.
Technical Scope and Signing History
The overpass bridges are described as addressing congestion along Monrovia’s busiest corridor. The technical scope as presented lacks a public-facing baseline for anticipated outcomes, maintenance plans, and lifecycle costs. The 2021 signing ceremony featured Li Jiang of the Chinese Embassy’s Economic and Commercial Section and then-Minister Ruth Coker-Collins, with other officials in attendance. Details about how the project aligns with Liberia’s broader transport strategy and domestic capacity-building commitments remain under-specified.
Moniba’s Critique: Delays vs. Deliverability
Former presidential candidate Dr. Clarence K. Moniba, LINU political leader, has warned that the project’s duration undermines credibility and national competitiveness. He noted that negotiations trace back to 2015/2016 and argued that the cumulative delays reflect governance bottlenecks, weak project-management capacity, and a failure to translate commitments into timely execution.
“Nearly a decade after initial commitment, we celebrate a groundbreaking for a bridge that should have been completed long ago,” Moniba wrote. “This isn’t progress; it’s a symptom of systemic delays that undermine public trust and economic momentum.”
Boakai’s Vision Under Scrutiny: A Roads-First Growth Agenda
Boakai frames the bridges as a vehicle for reducing congestion, improving safety, and streamlining movement of goods and emergency responders. He tied the project to the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), asserting road infrastructure as a driver of growth. Critics ask whether prioritizing such projects without timely delivery, transparent budgeting, or clear nationwide road-improvement sequencing is sound strategy for inclusive development, especially if other sectors (education, healthcare, rural development) lag.
Diplomacy, Jobs, and Public Cooperation — But at What Cost?
The president thanked China and Ambassador Lin Chengwu while praising the Public Works Ministry for its preparation work. Yet, the broader costs and local benefits warrant closer inspection:
– Local benefits: The claims include hundreds of direct and indirect jobs, improved logistics for traders, and safer, faster commutes. Independent impact assessments or baseline traffic studies are not publicly available to verify these projections.
– Public accountability: While Boakai urged transparency, there is no clear mechanism outlined for ongoing, independent monitoring of progress, budgets, or performance against milestones. The press and civil society deserve formal, scheduled briefings with data dashboards.
Maintenance and long-term stewardship
Boakai pledged ongoing maintenance and teased corridor-wide discipline measures. Critics note that maintenance funding and governance are often neglected after construction finishes, risking rapid deterioration if budgets are misaligned or oversight lapses occur. A credible plan for long-term funding, spare-parts planning, and performance metrics is essential.
Bottom Line: Scrutinize the Trade-offs
The ground-breaking signals progress on Liberia’s road network, but the project’s financing, governance, and long-term social and economic impacts demand rigorous scrutiny. As the administration touts a modernization narrative, editors, civil society, and independent researchers should demand:
– A transparent, public cost breakdown, including debt service terms and lifecycle costs.
– Clear procurement records, bidding procedures, and contractor performance guarantees.
– Independent impact assessments on traffic relief, accident reduction, and local displacement.
– Detailed timelines with milestone-based progress reports and post-completion maintenance plans.
The project is scheduled for completion by late 2027, pending the resolution of financing terms, governance reforms, and independent oversight.
