MONROVIA — The Liberian government has accused the former administration of President George Weah of misappropriating US$29 million in World Bank funding intended for a major road project in the southeast—a diversion it says stalled progress on the critical Ganta-to-Zwedru corridor for more than two years.
Public Works Minister Roland Giddings, speaking on the radio program “Class Reloaded,” claimed the funds were earmarked for the Southeastern Corridor Road Asset Management Project (SECRAMP), a public-private partnership designed to pave 225 kilometers of road from Ganta in Nimba County to Zwedru in Grand Gedeh County. However, only 19 kilometers were completed under the previous administration before work was halted.
“The past government used $29 million out of the World Bank funding for the Tapita-to-Zwedru road for unknown expenses, which put the project to a halt until we took over,” Giddings said. He added that the alleged misuse forced the World Bank to restructure the agreement and withdraw certain financial guarantees, leaving contractors unpaid and the site abandoned. The Boakai administration claims it has since cleared over $5 million in arrears and revived the stalled project.
Former Official Rebuts Misuse Allegation
In a strong rebuttal, former Assistant Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Public Works, Jefferson Chesson, described Giddings’ remarks as “factually incorrect and dangerously misleading.” He argued that no Liberian administration, past or present, has direct access to or discretion over World Bank disbursements, which are governed by strict fiduciary controls and Liberia’s Public Financial Management (PFM) Law.
“Disbursements under World Bank contracts follow strict procurement and audit protocols. If $29 million had been misused, the World Bank would have flagged it and halted disbursements immediately,” Chesson said in a statement. He attributed the delay to additional biodiversity studies requested by the World Bank—a standard requirement for projects in environmentally sensitive areas.
Chesson accused Giddings of either misunderstanding or intentionally distorting World Bank procedures, asserting that such claims risk undermining public trust in international institutions. He challenged the minister to publicly request a World Bank audit and provide evidence that the funds were diverted.
“By alleging misuse, Minister Giddings is effectively accusing the World Bank of negligence or complicity. If he believes this, he must provide evidence or retract the statement,” Chesson stated, calling the accusations “either a case of gross incompetence or a blatant political smear.”
Government Revives Corridor Project
Meanwhile, Giddings said the Boakai administration has reactivated the long-delayed road project. Contractors are reportedly back on-site, laying base courses from Ganta through Saclepea to Tapita, with financing secured from partners including the African Development Bank, the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID), and ECOWAS.
Contracts have also been finalized to pave a 40-kilometer stretch to Toe’s Town, with procurement underway for the final segment to Zwedru and a 10-kilometer extension to the Ivorian border.
Giddings emphasized the project’s transformative potential, noting that once completed, it will establish an all-weather route from Monrovia to Liberia’s far southeastern counties, drastically reducing travel time and improving trade, healthcare access, and educational opportunities.
“We’ve inherited a broken project and turned it around,” he said, crediting the ARREST Agenda and donor support for the renewed momentum.
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