Liberia has signed a US$63 million agreement to pave a major road linking the country’s southeastern region to the border with Côte d’Ivoire, as authorities seek to improve trade, reduce isolation in rural communities and stimulate agricultural growth.
The contract, signed this week by Liberia’s Ministry of Public Works, covers the paving of an 85-kilometre (53-mile) corridor connecting the Ivorian border to Toe Town and extending to Zwedru in Grand Gedeh County.
The project will be implemented by a joint venture between Consolidated Contractor Offshore SAL and Consolidated Engineering and Trading Co. SAL, known as ICCO-CET-JV.
Liberian authorities said the road is expected to strengthen regional connectivity between the country’s southeast and central regions while improving cross-border trade flows with neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire.
The project is being financed through the World Bank via its International Development Association (IDA), alongside contributions from the Liberia Development Trust Fund and the Liberian government.
More Read
Construction is expected to last 36 months and forms part of the second phase of Liberia’s Rural Economic Transformation Project, known as RETRAP II.
Officials say the initiative is central to efforts to unlock agricultural production in southeastern Liberia, where poor transport infrastructure has long limited access to markets and increased the cost of moving goods.
“The road will improve mobility, facilitate trade and enhance access to essential services for communities that have remained underserved for years,” the Ministry of Public Works said in a statement.
More Read
Liberia, a country still rebuilding infrastructure after years of civil conflict and underinvestment, has one of the weakest road networks in West Africa.
According to government data, more than 88 percent of the country’s roads remain unpaved, leaving many rural areas inaccessible during the rainy season.
In some southeastern counties, communities can become effectively cut off for months due to deteriorating road conditions, disrupting trade and access to healthcare and education.
The government estimates that around 900,000 people, including farmers, traders and rural households, will benefit from the project.
Authorities also hope the corridor will help boost agricultural exports by linking farming communities more efficiently to domestic and regional markets.
Agriculture remains one of Liberia’s main economic sectors, employing a large share of the population, but poor infrastructure continues to hamper productivity and investment.
More Read
The road project forms part of the government’s 2025–2029 national development strategy, known as the “Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development,” which identifies transport infrastructure as a key driver of economic inclusion and poverty reduction.
Analysts say improved road connectivity could significantly reduce transport costs in southeastern Liberia, where travel times are often prolonged by damaged or impassable roads.
“Road infrastructure is absolutely critical for Liberia’s economic transformation,” said Monrovia-based development economist Samuel Doe.
“When roads are poor, farmers cannot get produce to market efficiently, businesses face higher operating costs, and communities remain isolated from economic opportunity.”
The World Bank has repeatedly highlighted infrastructure deficits as one of the country’s major development challenges.
In its “Liberia Poverty Assessment 2023,” the Bank said approximately 42 percent of Liberia’s population remained poorly connected or entirely disconnected from the road network.
The report warned that weak transport infrastructure contributes to high transportation costs, limits access to social services and reduces economic integration between rural and urban areas.
Cross-border trade with Côte d’Ivoire is also expected to benefit from the new road.
Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire share extensive commercial and social ties along their common border, but inadequate transport links have constrained formal trade and regional integration efforts.
Officials say the project aligns with broader regional goals to improve connectivity and facilitate commerce within West Africa.
Despite optimism surrounding the project, infrastructure development in Liberia has historically faced challenges including financing gaps, delays and difficult terrain, especially during heavy rains.
Authorities say oversight mechanisms will be strengthened to ensure the project is completed on schedule.
For residents in southeastern Liberia, where long journeys on damaged dirt roads remain common, the paving project represents a rare sign of long-awaited investment in infrastructure that many hope could transform daily life and economic activity.
