Monrovia – The Crown Prince of Norway, Prince Haakon has hailed the Liberian government and the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) for the level of work done at Mount Coffee Hydropower plant.
Report by Edwin Genoway, Jr[email protected]
Prince Haakon is also the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and he is the UNDP longest serving Good Will Ambassador.
Prince Haakon said he is impressed with the government of Liberia as partner of Norway to carry out the hydro project
In 2011 the government of Liberia requested financing for the rehabilitating of the hydro project from the Government of Norway (GON), KFW Development Bank of Germany, and the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The Financing Agreement between EIB and the GOL was signed on December 28, 2012, for a concessionary loan in the amount of €50 million.
Two Cooperation Agreements were signed between the government of Liberia and the government of Norway on June 13 and July 4, 2013 in support of the Mt. Coffee Project Implementation Unit and the Hydropower Rehabilitation Project, respectively, for a total grant amount of NOK450 million.
A Financing and Project Agreement was also signed between KfW and the GOL on September 30, 2013, for a grant in the amount of €25 million.
The Government of Liberia committed to providing US$45 million and covering any cost overruns.
The Norwegian Prince during his visit to the Mount Coffee Hydro praised the government of Liberia for making good use of the donors’ funding to the hydro project.
He noted that Liberia and Norway are two good partners that have a long serving relationship.
“The government of Liberia has been a very important partner to Norway and that is something that is very impressive, the electricity that the hydro provides is important for security, and the health sector as well, there are still a lot to be done,” he said.
Prince Haakon said the restoration of the hydro has contributed towards providing security, saying, it helps to fight darkness that criminals use to carryout unlawful acts.
He acknowledged how useful the electricity would be to students who studied using candle lights.
The Crown Prince commended the government for providing the ‘big light’ President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf promised when she took office in 2005.
“I am impressed to see the level of work being done in Liberia with the hydro. I see that it produces clean hydro power that will benefit the greatest population of Liberia,” he explained.
Speaking earlier, the board Chairman of the LEC, Ian Yhap lauded the government of the Kingdom of Norway and other partners for their support to the Government of Liberia in restoring electricity in the country.
“We are committed to making sure that the support made by our partners yield more fruity results. We thank the government of Norway and our other partners for the level of support given to us as a country,” he noted.
He urged the Norwegian Crown Prince to convey the Liberian government’s gratitude to the people and government of Norway for their support to Liberia.
Prince Haakon has been visiting Liberia for the past three days and has concluded his three-day visit where he met with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and discussed his impressions of the country’s progress, and the transition to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
President Sirleaf and the Goodwill Ambassador also discussed the final drawdown and withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the role UN agencies and partners can play in supporting Liberians to consolidate peace and move the development agenda forward.
On his last day in Liberia, the UNDP Goodwill Ambassador called on the country’s youth to get actively involved in ensuring that Liberia tackles poverty and inequality, and remains on an irreversible path of peace and sustainable development.
“Without young people, we will not meet the SDGs,” Crown Prince Haakon said at a public lecture at the University of Liberia’s Fendall Campus outside Monrovia.
“Each and every one of you can play a role in moving Liberia forward.”
“Think about all Liberians and support a peaceful process when you vote this October.”
“Discover innovative solutions for everyone, encourage each other and make sure nobody is left behind.”
Liberians will be voting for a new president and legislature in October 2017. More than two million people have registered to vote.
UNDP is supporting the National Elections Commission (NEC) to deliver peaceful and democratic elections.
The SDGs, otherwise known as the Global Goals, are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity. World leaders committed to achieve the 17 Goals by the year 2030.
The Crown Prince is an advocate for UNDP efforts to assist Member States achieves SDG 1- to end poverty in all its forms everywhere.
In addition to the Fendall Campus visit, the UNDP Goodwill Ambassador met frequently with young people.
He heard from women leaders gathered at Monrovia’s Fish Market, the epicenter of Liberia’s peace movement; and from young entrepreneurs at the Liberia Market Place who are promoting Liberian-made goods.
At the I-Campus Crown Prince Haakon officially launched the nomination process for the 2017 edition of Integrity Idols, a citizen-led initiative to recognize and celebrate honest and accountable public servants.
The Goodwill Ambassador also visited with Ebola survivors, orphans and response workers; the Pink Panthers female motorcyclists focused on women’s empowerment; and high school students at the D. Twe Memorial School in New Kru Town that is at significant risk of destruction from coastal erosion.