MONROVIA – Senator Amara Mohammed Konneh of Gbarpolu County has raised serious concerns about a $363.9 million Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession contract between the Government of Liberia (GOL) and Sierra Leonean company PaviFort Al Associates, intended to upgrade 255 kilometers of primary roads in four counties. The agreement, already approved by the House of Representatives without a public hearing, is now under scrutiny in the Senate, with Konneh emphasizing the need for rigorous assessment to protect Liberia’s fiscal and developmental interests.
The PPP aims to upgrade critical road corridors, including St. Paul’s Bridge to Klay, Klay to Bo Waterside, Klay to Tubmanburg, Madina to Robertsport, and Voinjama to Kolahun to Mendikorma. Under the proposed financing model, GOL is expected to contribute $145.6 million, representing 40% of the total project cost, while PaviFort will raise $218.3 million in debt, accounting for 60%. Tolls on the completed road corridors are projected to cover the debt payments, raising questions about the economic assumptions underpinning the project.
Konneh welcomed the President’s effort to address Liberia’s infrastructure deficit, particularly in Western Liberia, but noted that the plan would have been stronger if it had included the Tubmanburg to Bopolu section in Phase I. This segment would provide vital access to Emirates Hospital, soon to serve as the primary referral hospital for the region. The omission, he suggests, highlights the importance of strategic planning to maximize the social and economic benefits of major infrastructure projects.
While the toll road initiative addresses a critical infrastructure bottleneck, Konneh stressed that the current concession structure raises serious concerns about PaviFort’s financial and technical capacity. “The economic viability, fiscal risk, regulatory environment, and implementation capacity also raise significant concerns,” he said, emphasizing that Liberia must ensure value for money before committing substantial public resources.
One of the primary issues highlighted by Konneh is the uncertainty around traffic volumes and toll elasticity. The concession agreement lacks a comprehensive feasibility study or multi-scenario model, leaving the projected breakeven point, estimated between $900 million and $1.2 billion in toll revenue, questionable. Given Liberia’s current traffic base, the assumptions underlying this projection may be overly optimistic, demanding closer scrutiny.
Konneh also noted that GOL is exposed to approximately $145.7 million in payments during the first three years of the project, with no clear cap on contingent liabilities or clarity regarding the Road Fund. The timing and reliability of PaviFort’s 60% financing contribution remain uncertain, adding to concerns about fiscal exposure and debt sustainability under Liberia’s current IMF Extended Credit Facility.
The Senator pointed to broader systemic challenges, highlighting that Liberia’s capacity to execute PPPs remains weak. The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, with technical support from the World Bank, is still developing the policy and legal framework required to govern such partnerships. Konneh emphasized that proceeding without a robust framework could leave Liberia vulnerable to fiscal mismanagement and project delays.
To address these risks, Konneh pledged to request the project’s feasibility study and to engage independent experts to conduct a full technical and financial due diligence. This assessment will examine traffic counts, toll revenue projections, construction and operational costs, and maintenance expenses. “Best practices suggest that the agreement should include several scenarios and their implications. Relying solely on a baseline scenario is not sufficient,” he said.
Despite the concerns, Konneh assured Liberians that he is committed to working collaboratively with colleagues in the Senate and the Executive Branch. “I pledge to work to fix this agreement so it works for Liberia,” he said, stressing the need to confirm that the concessionaire possesses both the financial resources and technical capacity to execute the project successfully while managing fiscal risks.
The Senator’s statement reflects a broader call for transparency, accountability, and rigorous oversight in major public infrastructure initiatives. By scrutinizing the PaviFort road concession, Konneh and his colleagues aim to ensure that Liberia’s investment delivers tangible benefits for citizens, strengthens regional connectivity, and contributes to sustainable national development.
