Monrovia – It will be a bitter pill for many Liberians to swallow when the famous uncompleted Defense Ministry building in Congo Town is broken down to give way for a US$60 million ministerial complex funded by the People’s Republic of China has given Liberia as a gift.
There have been mixed reactions since the government announced September this year that it had completed arrangement for the project that is reportedly the PRC second most expensive infrastructural gesture on the African continent. When constructed, it will be next to the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
FrontPage Africa has been hinted by the Chinese Company hired to construct the complex that experts from China are due to arrive in the country later this week to begin the demolition of the uncompleted structure.
Gao Yuanming, Assistant General Manager and Project Manager of Jiangsu Provincial Construction Group, told a FPA reporter who visited the construction site recently that when the experts arrived, the next move would be the demolition of the building in order to begin actual construction works.
The firm is already constructing tentative offices and dwelling places to host workers on the site of the building.
Sources at the Ministry of Public Works has told FPA it would cost the Chinese firm US$4M to demolish the unfinished building, whose construction started back in the 1980s, during the regime of former President Samuel K. Doe.
The project was part of diplomatic tie between Liberia and Israel.
Ahead of the demolition, many Liberians are contending that the government should have utilized the vast vacant land available in the country instead of breaking down the building already constructed.
“I think it is actually a waste of money,” asserted one experience Liberian engineer who asked for anonymity.“
“Because for me, being an engineer, who has been looking at that building it seems to be structurally sound.”
Although no assessment report has been made public, the government claims that an engineering assessment was done and it was established that the unfinished building is not structurally suitable and should therefore make way for the ministerial complex.
And the head of the President’s Program Delivery Unit (PDU) told FPA in September this year that development came with sacrifices, while also stressing that Liberians will be proud of the ministerial complex once it is completed.
Said Clarence Moniba: “Development requires sacrifices and although we are bringing down the old Defense Ministry, this administration is glad that a modern complex that will improve not only the efficiency of government, but the landscape of this city will be taking its place.”
But others are arguing that Beijing wants to use the project as an “indelible stamp” to strengthen its bilateral relationship with the Monrovia, which means erecting such edifice at an ideal location will serve as a showcase.
According to Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua of China, the agreement for the project was the result of a request by President Sirleaf to his government, adding that it would be a lasting symbol of the friendship between Liberia and China.
“Why waste money just to please the Chinese government? I think the Chinese want the land to showcase their dominance in Liberia, which is good but should not cost the destruction of that building,” argued an engineer who prefers anonymity.
“I think if the Government of Liberia wants the Chinese to do the ministerial complex they can use another land,” suggested Abel Deweah, a resident of Congo Town.
“Look, we have land all over especially on the highway, I mean on the RIA highway.”
Another Liberian opposing the demolition, Steve Peters added: “To spend US$4 million on breaking down this building is a very bad choice, because that money can help build a lot of other buildings in this country.”
Regardless the critical views by some Liberians concerning the demolition of the unfinished defense ministry, government is firm about its execution which will accordingly ensure Liberia’s adherence to the agreement with the Chinese.
According to the plan, the US$60m complex will host at least ten ministries and agencies when constructed, and the project Manager Yuanming said it would take three years to fully complete the complex.
But some are concerned that the action might hurt Liberia’s relationship with Israel since there has been favorable relationship between the two nations, with Liberia listed as one of the African countries that voted in favor of Israel to become an independent state.
The diplomatic connection later strengthened following the visit of President Doe to Jerusalem in 1983 after it was severed by his predecessor, William R. Tolbert.