Monrovia – The Japanese Government has signed a grant agreement with four local non-governmental organizations for the implementations of several development projects in rural Liberia.
Report by Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
The grant is awarded under the Japan’s Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Project (GGHSP).
The NGOs include the Community Health Initiative (CHI), Community Safety Initiative (CSI), Peer Vision Education Network Liberia (PEVEN) and Nay-Yougor Wulakellen Empowerment Program (NAY-WEP).
Under the agreement, CHI will construct a maternal, newborn and child health center in Kpan Town, Mamba Karbah District, Margibi County at a cost of US$90, 899.00, while CSI will construct a US$90,670.00 youth development center in District #1, Grand Bassa County.
PEVEN gets US$83,154.00 for the construction of an institute for care and TVET services for people living with HIV/AIDS in Kakata, Margibi County and NAY-WEP benefits US$83,890.00 for a 7.4 feeder road rehabilitation project from Cotton Tree to Gwolista, near Gbartala in Bong County.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on Wednesday, February 28 in Monrovia, the new Japanese Ambassador to Liberia, Tsutomu Himeno reaffirmed his government’s support to the development of Liberia.
Ambassador Himeno noted that although his country has been supporting major development initiatives in Liberia over the years, what makes this assistance unique is its direct impact to local community.
“We are very supportive of the project. We received many proposals. But we chose you because you have an excellent proposal.”
“Secondly, because you have many Japanese friends with big hearts and goodwill who would like to support brothers and sisters of the Republic of Liberia and we considered the project because it is a grassroots human security project.”
“I am accurately aware of the great commitment of the new government as well as the previous government to deliver.”
“However, the government cannot do all because of some national limitations.”
“So, Japan will like to play her part; working with the Government of Liberia and with such wonderful competitive organizations as yours,” he averred.
In separate remarks, the heads of the various implementing NGOs, thanked the Government and People of Japan for the grant and vowed to use the fund for the intended purposes.
“Your Excellency, we are very aware that your country and its peace-loving people like many other countries of the world have challenges; for example, Japan is one of the world’s most earthquake prone countries witnessing about 1500 earthquakes every year….
Cognizant of this and your keen interest in human security, CSI wants to assure you that monies intended for this project will be expeditiously used for the sole purpose,” avowed Samuka Blama Sannoh, Executive Director of CSI.
Sannoh added that when completed, the multipurpose youth center – the first of its kind – will benefit several young people in the district.
Naomi Tulay Solanke, the Executive Director of CHI, noted that the construction of the maternal, newborn and child health center in Kpan Town “comes at a time when more than 25,000 women and children in the district have no access to healthcare facilities”.
She lamented how patients walk for several hours or relocate to Monrovia to have access to pre-natal care, noting that when completed, the facility will serve over 50 patients including women, pregnant woman, children and men.
Following the end of the civil war in Liberia, Japan has become one of the major development partners of the West African nation.
The maternity center at the John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital and ongoing Somalia Drive road construction projects are some of the many aid packages Liberia is befitting from the Asian Country.