Liberia: Congo Town Overpasses Spark Political Storm

What the report says

Construction of two overpass bridges along Tubman Boulevard in Congo Town, Liberia, has become the focus of a political dispute between supporters of former President George Manneh Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change and President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s Unity Party. According to The New Dawn, both sides are claiming credit for the Chinese-funded project, with CDC supporters saying it was conceived and negotiated under the Weah administration and UP backers pointing to the Boakai government’s role in moving the work forward.

The article says the project’s documented history began under Weah. It cites a 2018 meeting between Weah and Chinese President Xi Jinping, followed by a 2019 agreement and a 2021 implementation pact between Liberia and China. Liberia’s Ministry of Public Works has described the overpasses as part of China’s infrastructure assistance to the country.

The dispute comes amid a wider political argument in Liberia over which administration should receive recognition for projects started by one government and completed by another. The piece notes comments from Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine K. Ngafuan, who pushed back on claims that current projects are simply inherited work.

As of October 28, 2026, construction was still underway. The bridges are expected to reduce congestion, improve road safety and shorten travel times on Tubman Boulevard, a major route linking Monrovia and Paynesville. The project is estimated at about US$36.6 million and is financed by a Chinese government grant.