Monrovia – The National Road Fund (NRF) has donated key logistics, including 28 motorbikes, a pickup truck, and a set of computer and printing equipment, to the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) to enhance road maintenance and community monitoring across Liberia.
The donation forms part of the launch of the Community-Based Organization (CBO) Road Monitoring Program, an initiative designed to strengthen grassroots involvement in the upkeep of feeder and community roads. Under the program, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will collaborate with local authorities and community groups to ensure timely reporting and swift responses to road maintenance challenges.
Speaking during the official handover ceremony, NRF Manager Josetta Wentoe underscored the importance of the initiative, stressing that it goes beyond infrastructure improvement. According to her, the program is designed as a dual-purpose intervention—supporting road durability while also creating employment opportunities for young people across the country.
“This initiative is a twofold approach—first, to improve the condition of our roads, especially in remote communities, and second, to provide employment opportunities for our young people,” Wentoe said. She announced that approximately 1,500 youths will be recruited and deployed nationwide to serve as road monitors.
The community monitors will be tasked with reporting road maintenance problems and conducting minor repairs. These include cleaning drainages, brushing roadside vegetation, and addressing small-scale issues that, if left unattended, could worsen road conditions. By adopting this proactive approach, the program is expected to extend the lifespan of rural roads, improve safety for motorists and pedestrians, and ensure smoother connectivity between communities.
For his part, the Minister of Internal Affairs commended the NRF for the support, noting that the new logistics will strengthen the ministry’s ability to work effectively with CBOs. He emphasized that the equipment will significantly enhance monitoring capacity, enabling community organizations to exercise greater oversight and accountability in road management.
The Community Road Monitoring Program is particularly critical in rural Liberia, where feeder roads play a central role in the movement of goods, services, and people. Poor road conditions often hamper access to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities, slowing economic growth and limiting opportunities for residents. By empowering local communities to take an active role in road upkeep, the program is expected to address these challenges while promoting sustainability.
In addition to its infrastructure and employment benefits, the initiative is aligned with the Liberian government’s broader decentralization and inclusive development agenda. By involving citizens directly in road management, the project reflects a participatory approach to governance—one that strengthens accountability while ensuring that local voices shape development priorities.
Observers note that with Liberia’s vast network of feeder roads often neglected due to limited resources, the NRF’s initiative could prove a game-changer. If effectively implemented, it promises not only to reduce the financial burden of large-scale road repairs but also to create meaningful jobs for thousands of young people across the country.
As Liberia continues to grapple with infrastructure and unemployment challenges, the Community Road Monitoring Program offers a glimpse of how strategic partnerships between government institutions, community organizations, and citizens can drive both economic empowerment and sustainable development.
