Liberia: Japan Budget US$95K to Complete Abandoned ‘ Market Project’ in Bong
View of the abandoned market
…. The Market project initially began under the administration of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf but was never completed.
The government of Japan has embarked on a mission to rescue the abandoned Gbarnga Central Market building in Bong County.
The announcement comes as Japan had reached an agreement with the government to complete the market for US$95K.
The market project initially began under the administration of former Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf but was never completed. The project came on the back of an appeal from the people of Bong for a spacious and conducive place for business.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Market took place in April 2013. The Sirleaf Market Women Fund, which initiated the construction, at a cost of US$500k, wanted to build a market that contains storage facilities, a school, and a mini-health center.
Established at the end of 2006, the Sirleaf Market Women Fund partnered with the Government of Liberia, international organizations, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the African Women's Development Fund (AWDF), and non-governmental organizations, to improve the lives of tens of thousands of market women and their families—and to advance women's human rights.
President George Weah while seeking the presidency in 2017, promises the people of Bong that his administration would see to it that the uncompleted market building is completed.
“The completion of this market project that the Japanese and Liberian governments have embarked upon is a gift to the people of Bong County, especially marketers,” Steve Paye, the Coordinator for the Japanese Secretariat said.
According to Paye, the project will be monitored by the Japanese government to ensure value for money, and construction work is expected to kick off in two weeks.
“The market is expected to be completed in February 2024 and the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE) is the lead implementer of the project.”
BMC Group is expected to be a subcontractor of the project,” Paye added.