The Minister of Public Works, Roland Layfette Giddings, says the Government of Liberia’s first post-war National Infrastructure Conference is a bold attempt to holistically reassess and reform the country’s infrastructure sector after years of conflict and fragmented development.Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the conference in Ganta City, Minister Giddings described the five-day gathering as a direct vision of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, aimed at “rebranding and rebuilding Liberia through reconstruction.
”According to Giddings, Liberia has not comprehensively reviewed its infrastructure systems—roads, energy, ports, airports, telecommunications, public buildings, and urban planning—since the end of the civil war, a gap he said has significantly constrained national development.“The reason why we are not developing as expected is because of the deficit we have in infrastructure, especially roads and energy,” Giddings stated. He recalled that prior to the war, Liberia had limited but more efficient systems that masked infrastructure deficits, unlike the present situation where years of crisis have exposed deep structural weaknesses.The Public Works Minister emphasized that post-war urban disorder has worsened infrastructure challenges, with people constructing buildings in waterways, alleys, and even near runways, obstructing accessibility and proper spatial development.
He said government must take difficult but necessary steps to restore order through planning and enforcement.“This country has to be re-honored,” Giddings said, noting that a clear national plan is required to guide urban and spatial development going forward.The conference has brought together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including private-sector infrastructure associations, key line ministries, government agencies, and development partners. Institutions represented include the Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Transport, and Public Works, as well as the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA), National Port Authority (NPA), Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and airport authorities.Giddings explained that the goal of the conference is to conduct a sector-wide assessment, identify policy and institutional overlaps, and recommend reforms to harmonize the functions of ministries and agencies whose mandates currently conflict or collapse into one another.Among the key reform proposals under discussion is the restructuring of the water and sanitation sector.
The minister disclosed plans to transition toward a dedicated Ministry of Water and Sanitation under the WASH Compact, which would oversee water infrastructure nationwide.“At present, the Water and Sewer Corporation is responsible mainly for urban water infrastructure, while Public Works handles rural water due to the dissolution of rural development structures,” Giddings noted. He admitted that insufficient funding has left rural water access critically low.He stressed that the conference is not a one-off event but part of a longer reform process. Outcomes from the discussions will be compiled into a comprehensive policy document, published on a dedicated conference website, and subjected to a one-day national validation exercise involving ministries, agencies, legal experts, engineers, and technicians.
The finalized document will then be submitted to Cabinet for consideration, with recommendations expected to inform policy reforms, new legislation, and amendments to existing laws governing infrastructure-related institutions.Giddings also used the platform to criticize past governance reforms, arguing that some changes implemented over the last two decades have weakened Liberia’s capacity to generate domestic resources for development.“We need to reform the reforms,” he declared, citing examples in the forestry sector and axle-load control regime, which he believes have reduced revenue generation and undermined road maintenance.On the contentious Axle Load Law, Giddings argued that enforcement should fall under the Ministry of Public Works rather than the Ministry of Transport, since road construction, rehabilitation, and maintenance are Public Works’ statutory responsibilities.
“You cannot control axle loads when you did not build the road, you do not maintain the road, and you have no engineering data on the road,” he said.Addressing financing, the minister acknowledged that Liberia faces a massive infrastructure funding gap. He estimated that over the next five years, national development needs could reach approximately US$8 billion, with a significant portion required for infrastructure alone.“With a national budget of just over US$2 billion, we cannot dedicate everything to infrastructure. We still have to pay salaries and meet other obligations,” Giddings said, stressing the need for innovative domestic and external resource mobilization strategies.
The National Infrastructure Conference, which began on Monday, January 19, 2026, focuses on thematic areas including spatial development and urban planning, housing and social infrastructure, energy and transport systems, road and bridge connectivity, rural access, traffic management, and resilient infrastructure.Other priority topics include climate change integration, water, sewerage and sanitation (WASH), solid waste management, telecommunications, and digital connectivity, with particular attention to underserved rural communities.Minister Giddings said the conference will conclude on Friday, January 23, 2026, but its work will continue through validation and Cabinet review, ultimately shaping Liberia’s long-term infrastructure development roadmap.“Infrastructure is the cornerstone of economic growth,” he said. “If we get this right, we change Liberia’s future.”
Author: P. Uriah Suah
