Rédaction Africa Links 24 with New Dawn
Published on 2024-02-27 20:28:32
Finance and Development Planning Minister, Boima S. Kamara, emphasized the importance of farms to market roads in the ARREST Agenda of President Joseph Nyumah Boakai. He stated that a robust turnaround is needed to ensure the smooth movement of goods and services from rural to urban areas across the country through road connectivity. Minister Kamara made these remarks during a meeting with the World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Liberia on February 26, 2024.
The Minister highlighted that farms to market roads play a crucial role in alleviating extreme poverty by facilitating the transportation of goods and services when businesses, farmers, and private farm owners need to bring their products to the market. He emphasized that President Boakai’s national development plan, known as ARREST, will prioritize the construction of roads and other infrastructure in the next six years to promote private sector growth.
Currently, the Government of Liberia has more than 13,000 km of roads that require paving to support private sector development. However, only 9% of these roads have been completed, indicating the urgent need for infrastructure improvement. The World Bank Country Director, Mr. Robert Taliercio O’Brien, reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda. He emphasized that the Bank will continue to assist the government in various sectors, including private sector development and climate resilience.
Mr. O’Brien praised the government’s 100-day deliverables plan and expressed the Bank’s readiness to provide technical assistance as needed. He urged for a more ambitious approach to addressing Liberia’s development challenges and emphasized the Bank’s enthusiasm to strengthen its relationship with the country. The Bank aims to foster stronger partnerships and support Liberia in its development efforts.
In conclusion, Minister Kamara and the World Bank Country Director highlighted the importance of farms to market roads in promoting economic growth and reducing poverty in Liberia. They underscored the need for continued collaboration between the government and international partners to achieve sustainable development goals. The implementation of President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda is vital for improving infrastructure, enhancing private sector growth, and fostering economic resilience in Liberia.
Read the original article on The Newdawn Liberia
