Monrovia – Better Future Foundation (BFF), has expressed delight over disclosure by the Government of Liberia (GoL), that construction of the US$60m Ministerial Complex for Liberia would shortly begin in the country.
In a release issued over the weekend, BFF Head Mr. Augustine Arkoi, however, reiterated its call for the complex to be strategically situated in line with plans by the government to depopulate Monrovia which has become overcrowded and faces acute lack of infrastructures including housing, good road network and functional sewage system, among others.
Mr. Akoi added that if the ministerial complex is completed, it would serve as a major component of the legacy of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s administration, and as such, it should be ideally located aimed at enhancing the immediate and long-term development needs and aspirations of Liberia.
The youth development advocacy group also observes that several parts of Monrovia including Congo Town are under serious threat by sea erosion and encroachment.
BFF maintains that the revelation by the Liberian government to break down the unfinished edifice of the Ministry of National Defense in Congo town for its subsequent replacement with said Ministerial Complex is a risky venture considering Liberia’s gross incapacity and lack of resources to protect coastal communities from the encroaching sea and uphold coastline erosion risk management.
The organization boss reference to the multi-million dollars Hotel Africa in Virginia, a suburb of Monrovia, D. Tweh Memorial High School in New Kru Town, the Head Offices of the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) in West Point, among other infrastructures which are either face with possible destruction or had been completely washed away by sea erosion over the years, as a results of previous administrations’ failure to exercise due diligence and farsightedness in the location and construction of such public facilities.
Mr. Akoi also underscored the need for the government to lawfully extend the city limit of Monrovia, Liberia’s Capital, not only for the construction of the Ministerial complex which represents a golden opportunity to depopulate Monrovia but also boost the establishment of satellite cities for accommodation of Monrovia’s already bloated and rapidly growing population in line with the government’s decentralization plan.
He further asserted that unresolved traffic congestion is making Monrovia increasingly unproductive; and the location of said ministerial complex in the strip land Congo Town Community, as recently announced by the government will not only exacerbate Monrovia’s regular complex traffic congestions as the city has no alternative motor roads to enhance free movement.