Monrovia – In the wake of public outcry that greeted plans by the Government of Liberia few years ago to breakdown the unfinished building located in Congo Town which was constructed by the regime of former President Samuel K. Doe to serve as the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense of Liberia, the Government has once again commenced preparation to have the building destroyed to pave the way for the construction of a ministerial complex.
“This gift, which is the second largest building project built by the Chinese in Africa, at the cost of 60 million USD, is something that we as Liberians will be proud of. 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” – Clarence Moniba, head of the President’s Program Delivery Unit (PDU) at the Ministry of State
Many Liberians are contending that the country has much vast unoccupied land which can be used for the construction of the building rather than breaking down an already constructed building on which the regime of former President Doe spend thousands of dollars.
There are others who also hold the view that the construction of a ministerial complex on the Tubman Boulevard highway which is already a route known for huge traffic congestion will further increases traffic rather than helping to reduce overcrowding in Monrovia.
Chinese engineers assisted by Liberian contractors have already started fencing the vicinity of the building in preparation for the demolition exercise.
The Government of Liberia first opted to use a land located in the ELWA community but the land became disputed prompting change of decision.
Again, when the Government first pronounced the decision to use the Congo Town land on which the Old Defense Ministry building is located for the construction of the ministerial complex several Liberians demanded that the government provides another land located in vicinities such as Mount Barclay on a location in an isolated place in order to reduce traffic congestion since all government ministries office will be located on the ministerial complex.
Development requires sacrifices
It seems the Government is now firmed on its decision to demolish the building to make way for the construction.
Clarence Moniba head of the President’s Program Delivery Unit (PDU) at the ministry of state) told FPA that development comes sacrifices noting that Liberians will be proud of the ministerial complex.
Said Moniba: “This gift, which is the second largest building project built by the Chinese in Africa, at the cost of 60 million USD, is something that we as Liberians will be proud of. 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”.
Preparation for the Ministerial complex started years ago when President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, along with a few top officials of government on September 11, 2012 signed a a multi-million agreement between the Governments of Liberia and People’s Republic of China at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia.
According to the agreement, the construction of the US$60m complex, which would host at least ten ministries and agencies when constructed, according to Ambassador Zhao Jianhua of China, was the result of a request by President Sirleaf to his government and would be a lasting symbol of the friendship between Liberia and China.
Second largest in Africa
When constructed, the ministerial complex is expected to be the second largest building constructed by the Chinese in Africa next to the headquarters of the African Union or AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Foreign Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan who served as Foreign Minister at the time of signing the agreement said the complex would also close the chapter on the inconvenience suffered by the government as a tenant, as well as open a new chapter on the respectability and cost-saving of being a landlord, according to during the September 11, 2012 impressive signing ceremony in Monrovia.
As part of the agreement, the Liberian Government was to only make available the ‘land’ for the construction, which should have been executed in three and a half years as per the signing of the agreement because the Chinese Government was already to make the money immediately available.
US$ 4 million for demolition?
Accordingly, the demolition of the Old Defense Ministry would cost US$ 4 million but the government is yet to confirm such figure.
Some are arguing that the cost to demolish the building could be used to carry out other meaningful projects in different locations.
The complex layout is designed to have five office buildings for Ministries, lecture hall, multifunctional hall, dining hall, water pump house, power transformation and distribution house, generator house etc., and necessary office equipment and housewares.
The complex architecture consists of five office buildings for Ministries, one comprehensive building and two houses for ancillary equipment, all featured by a 50-years working life, a Grade II fireproof endurance rating and a Class C seismic fortification category. Except for the annex equipment houses, buildings are linked by open outdoor corridors.
For access to the complex, the layout requires two accesses prepared to the south on the enclosing walls with pedestrians and vehicles separated.
On the security features, the complex is proposed to have security monitoring cameras at all accesses, stairways, halls and main outdoor passageways.
With the engineers already working in preparation for the demolishing of the building, there is yet no form of public obstacle to the project like was the case few years ago, where people staged vehement protest against the decision to demolish the structure.
The vicinity of the building was used during the Ebola outbreak where one of the largest Ebola Treatment Units (ETU) was constructed but it was not fully used as the outbreak was nearly over at the time the construction was completed.
Another obstacle to the project could likely come if the project will require relocation of some residents of the 540 community located right behind the building. The community known as 540 is fast growing with a population of thousands of people.