PLEEBO, Maryland County — The Ministry of Transport has broken ground for the construction of a US$187,679 regional office in Maryland County, a project officials say will bring transportation services closer to citizens in southeastern Liberia.
By Peter P. Toe, Jr., [email protected]
The groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday, September 15, at the outskirts of Pleebo City, bringing together officials of the Ministry of
Transport, Maryland County authorities, traditional and religious leaders, women and youth representatives, contractors and residents.
The facility is expected to provide driver and motorcycle training, as well as the processing of transportation documents that currently require residents to travel outside the county.
Speaking during an overview of the project, Wilmont B. Chearu, Director for Planning, Policy and Research at the Ministry of Transport, said the initiative is part of the ministry’s efforts to decentralize its operations.
Chearu said the regional office will serve Maryland, Grand Kru, River Gee, Grand Gedeh and Sinoe counties.
“When completed, this office will provide citizens with easier access to the services of the Ministry of Transport without having to travel long distances,” Chearu said.
Pleebo City Mayor Larry Geekor welcomed the project and commended President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Ministry of Transport for bringing the initiative to Pleebo-Sodoken District.
Mayor Geekor said the project would create employment opportunities for young people and contribute to economic activity in the district.
He pledged the cooperation of the city authorities and urged the contractor to prioritize qualified residents of Maryland County for jobs during construction.
For him, maryland County Superintendent Nathaniel S. Toe described the project as an important step toward expanding government services in the county.
Superintendent Toe commended President Boakai and the Ministry of Transport, while also appreciating the traditional authorities of Pleebo-Sodoken for making land available for the project.
He called on citizens to protect public development projects and urged the contractor to complete the facility within the expected timeframe.
The Maryland County’s Superintendent Toe stressed that his administration would continue working with lawmakers, government officials and other stakeholders to advance development initiatives in Maryland County.
Also speaking at the ceremony was Deputy Minister for Transport Rudolph Natt who described the project as a major investment in expanding transportation services across Liberia.
Natt disclosed that similar groundbreaking ceremonies were being conducted in Bomi, Nimba and Lofa counties, alongside Maryland, as part of the ministry’s broader decentralization program.
He said the new regional office would also create additional employment opportunities while reducing the financial burden on residents who currently travel long distances for transportation-related services.
The Ministry of Transport says the regional office is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.
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