President George Weah’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD) has been described as the best development strategy for Liberia.
It was also said to be the right framework for many of Liberia’s motivated development partners.
Head of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, Ambassador Laurent Delahouse said this at an official ceremony of the commissioning of the Liberia Electricity Corporation substation on the old road of the metropolis.
Further, Delahouse commended the action of the Minister of Finance and Development Planning for the development and implementation of a new era of dialogue and coordination with development partners.
In his words, “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.”
However, it would be recalled that 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 € 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.
But 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. 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.
