European Union Chargé d'Affaires a.i., Emma Sundblad, participated in the Dedication of the Gbarnga-Ganta-Guinea Border road on Monday 7 March. 

Speaking at the Dedication, Mrs Sundblad said " The European Union and other European donors are extremely proud to be part of this highly successful project managed by the Government of Liberia with the support of the World Bank: good roads are a key factor for economic and social development and also of security."

Mrs Sundblad participated in the event and spoke as a representative of the Liberia Reconstruction Trust Fund (LRTF) donors, who include the United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Sweden and Norway as well as the European Union.  She underlined the EU's continued strong commitment to the Government's road building and maintenance programme, including through establishment of the road fund and helping the Ministry of Public Works to set in place a system for regular road maintenance practice.  She explained that in addition to contributing over USD 75 million towards the construction of the road between Monrovia and the Guinea border, the EU is presently funding the maintenance of the Monrovia/Buchanan and Monrovia/Sierra Leone Border roads, as well as designing the missing links on the coastal road and testing innovative sealing techniques for dust roads.

The European Union has also included Liberia in the wider plan for completing the West African Coastal Corridor by making available funds for the Sanniquelli – Danane stretch connecting Liberia to Ivory Coast.  This is a key piece in the Government's plan to transform Ganta into a dry port serving three countries.