Liberia: “Weah’s PAPD Is Best Dev. Strategy for Liberia”

The Head of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Laurent Delahousse has disclosed that President George Weah's Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) is the best development strategy for Liberia as it motivates development partners.

“Under your leadership, Mister President, the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development is the best development strategy for Liberia and the right framework for Liberia’s many dedicated and motivated development partners to set their actions,” the EU Ambassador said. 

“I commend the action of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning to develop and implement a new era of dialogue and coordination with development partners. The European Union is an enthusiastic actor in this process, it is  at the side of the Government to implement the policies set in the PAPD.” 

“As my friend, the American Ambassador Michael McCarthy said yesterday: ‘I would never tell a president who is elected by the people what to do but I think the President knows what the best moves will be,” Delahousse said.

Delahousse made the remarks at an official ceremony of the commissioning of the Liberia Electricity Corporation substation on the Old Road held on August 16.  

The funding for the substation  was made possible by the EU under the Monrovia Consolidation of Electricity Transmissions and Distribution Project.”  Funding comes from the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) and has a 24-months duration. A similar project was implemented under the 9th EDF for the electricity grids. Under the two programs, the EU has earmarked and invested substantially in the energy sector with a total budget of approximately  € 100 million in Liberia.

In 2018, the Liberian Government signed a "Transmission and Distribution" contract together with the Delegation of the European Union to Liberia, MBH Power Limited, and Intec-Gopa to design and build 66KV over headlines and extension of existing 66/22/10KV power that will help Monrovia to absorb more electricity from the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant to be transmitted to substations on Bushrod Island, New Kru Town, Capitol Hill, Congo Town, and Paynesville.

The EU is one of the leading donors in Liberia. Its concrete interventions and financial support under the EDF are carried out across various sectors, such as energy, transport, environment, health, technical and vocational education, and good governance. 

Created in 1957 by the Treaty of Rome and launched in 1959, the EDF is the EU's main instrument for providing development aid to African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries and overseas countries and territories. The EDF funds cooperation activities in economic development, social and human development, and regional cooperation and integration.

The commissioning of the substation was part of the activities of Weah’s Montserrado County Tour, which ends yesterday. It is expected that the substation will connect a total of 41,000 households in Monrovia.   The project will provide legal connection to the citizens of Monrovia who have been waiting to receive electricity in their communities.

“All the citizens of Monrovia who have been waiting to receive electricity can now steadily see their communities being legally connected to the electrical grid,” he said. “But let me be clear. Illegal connections to the electrical grid are unjustifiable and stealing electricity is an offense punishable by law. It also puts in danger the lives of many, with the risk of explosions and fires caused by the illegal overloading of the grid.”

According to him, in some communities, LEC teams are attacked by people who steal power and it is, therefore, essential that the government provides more support to LEC to fight power theft.

He emphatically stated that illegal electricity connections are unjustifiable and, as such, community members should take responsibility by taking ownership of keeping the grid safe from power theft, but called on the government to also increase support to the LEC in the fight against power theft.

“Let me be clear, stealing electricity is an offense punishable by law. It puts in danger the lives of many with the risk of explosion and fire caused by the illegal overloading of the grid. Do you know that LEC teams are attacked by people who steal power? It is therefore essential that government provides more support to LEC to fight power theft,” EU Diplomat said.

With the construction of the new Congo Town substation on the Old Road and the extension of additional three substations around Monrovia, the LEC is now providing electricity to approximately 41,000 households.

In addition, more than 70 communities in Central Monrovia, Sinkor, Congo Town, Paynesville, and outside of Monrovia are currently benefiting from LEC’s enhanced power supply generated by the Mount Coffee Hydro Plant with an increased capacity and use of cost-efficient means.

Under this project, 2,510 streetlights have been installed within the communities of the Greater Monrovia area for the safety and security of citizens.

“The Government has called for all development projects to emphasize training and technical education,” Delahousse noted. “I am therefore proud to mention that this project has already funded a traineeship for more than 40 young engineers, boys, and girls, working with the contractor daily, for a minimum of 6 months. Many have secured employment following the traineeship,” he said.

Recruited from the engineering departments of universities in Monrovia, the interns were deployed at several construction sites and were offered hands-on training in electrical, civil, and general engineering safety, and were provided with toolkits to enhance the technical and professional management capacities of the human resources in the sector. 

“In addition, with the extension of the electricity grid and the need for further connections, there will also be a need for more electricians in the country. To cover this, the European Union is funding TVET schools in each of the 15 counties of Liberia which will deliver the required skills,” he said.

Weah while commissioning the project said the newly constructed electricity substation, which is funded by the European Union, aimed to address the increasing electricity demand in Monrovia.

He urged citizens across the country to cooperate with the Liberia Electricity Corporation void of illegal connections. 

“I pray that going forward, we will all cooperate to make sure that the work the LEC is doing to solidify electricity is being supported by all citizens. We as citizens should take responsibility to not steal current so that our economy can be improved and for us to develop the country,” Weah said while praising the European Union for its support of his government’s developmental drive.

“Let me use this occasion to say a big thank you to the European Union and my friend McCarthy for always supporting my government,” Weah said.

As part of the second day of his Montserrado County Tour, the Liberian leader used the occasion and promised to fulfill a request made by the Community Chairman to construct a Town Hall for the People of that area upon the completion of his citizens’ engagement tour. 

The electricity power infrastructure implemented under the Monrovia Consolidation of Electricity Transmission and Distribution project is funded by the European Union, under the Eleventh European Development Fund (EDF) with a total budget of US$51.3 million.

Samuel D. Tweah, Minister of Finance and Development Planning, who is also the National Authorizing Officer, expressed gratitude to the EU for being a true partner in Liberia’s development.

“The EU’s assistance for us in the energy sector to provide our people and businesses with access to affordable electricity is very valuable and essential. Electricity is crucial for our industries and commercial customers such as manufacturers and traders,” the Minister said. “With this improvement in our energy infrastructure, Liberia expects to spur economic growth and create more jobs.

“I also want to thank the technical teams, MBH Power Limited, Intec Gopa, LEC, and other partners involved for their excellent collaboration, which is necessary for the project's success. Today's commissioning of the Congo Town Substation demonstrates a significant effort towards our Government's commitment to electrify Monrovia, its environs, and the entire country,” Tweah added.