By Amos Harris
The Government of Liberia has set 2028 as the target completion date for the Roberts International Airport (RIA) road project, a major infrastructure corridor that has suffered from prolonged delays, funding constraints, and persistent public concerns over the slow pace of construction.
Public Works Minister Roland Giddings says the government is working to accelerate work on the highway, which serves as the primary route connecting Monrovia to the country’s main international gateway.
Speaking on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, during a radio interview in Monrovia, Minister Giddings placed the blame for the project’s sluggish progress on the former Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration. He asserted that the current government inherited a poorly structured and inadequately planned project, creating complex administrative and logistical hurdles that the Boakai administration is now working to rectify.
Minister Giddings further alleged that financial management under the previous administration was questionable, claiming that funds allocated for the project were improperly disbursed to contractors. He disclosed that the current administration is conducting an audit to trace the usage of these funds and determine whether public resources were mismanaged.
However, the minister stopped short of revealing the specific amounts involved, providing details on the alleged improper disbursements, or naming the contracting firms implicated in the financial audit.
Beyond the immediate challenges facing the airport highway, Minister Giddings renewed his call for the full independence of the National Road Fund, arguing that the existing setup deprives the infrastructure sector of necessary financial predictability. He contended that an autonomous fund would guarantee that revenue generated for road development remains dedicated strictly to maintenance, rehabilitation, and construction rather than being redirected to meet other government spending priorities.
Giddings suggested that opposition to the proposal stems from a desire to preserve the Ministry of Finance’s current oversight and control over the funds. He maintained that insulating the Road Fund from political influence would enhance transparency, build trust among development partners and private investors, and ensure steady financing for major national projects.
“The independence of the Road Fund will make road construction faster and lead to the development of more roads across Liberia,” Minister Giddings emphasized.
As public pressure mounts for the timely delivery of key infrastructure projects, the government now faces heightened scrutiny over its financial accountability measures and its ability to meet the newly announced 2028 completion timeline for the RIA road.
Comments are closed.