MONROVIA, April 1 (LINA) – The President, Dr. George Manneh Weah, has made yet another giant move in fulfilling one of his campaign promises, breaking ground for the construction of a modern state-of-the-art market structure in the Omega Community, Paynesville.
During the 2017 campaign, the then Coalition for Democratic Change Standard Bearer drew enormous support from ordinary Liberians, most of them marketers and peddlers whom he promised to help in making them relevant actors in the economy and by improving environments in which they make business.
Taking peddlers and ‘yana boys’ out of the streets and placing them in modern market buildings was one of the President’s campaign promises.
On Friday, March 29, the Liberian leader planted the seed of fulfillment of that promise when he broke ground for what is to be called « 14th Gorbachev International Market » – a US$3.8 million Project funded by the Government of Japan.
It is being implemented by the Liberian Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE).
If completed, the modern market will house four thousand marketers and bring to an end their ordeal of selling their wares under unfavorable conditions that endanger their health, safety and goods.
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, President Weah termed the construction of the market a continuation of the fulfillment of promises he made to ordinary Liberians, mainly marketers during the 2017 election campaign.
The Liberian President said he had long empathized with Liberian marketers who make ends meet selling under the scorching sun and harsh rainy condition without a better place to transact their business.
« I once used to go to cook shops in this city to wash dishes as a way of being fed, » President Weah recalled the difficult days of his youth.
« Although I was in difficult time but I used to say to myself that the day I find myself in a better position, I would change the lives of marketers. Now that I am in the position, I feel morally obliged to keep that promise. »
He continued amid deafening cheers: « I am not a politician; rather, I am a practical administrator who believes in promoting and catering to the needs of my fellow mankind. »
President Weah urged marketers to ensure that when the modern facility is built they will take good care of it, and maintain it properly, adding, « It is one thing to build these kinds of important structures and another thing to manage or maintain them properly. »
President Weah, who lived in some of the world’s beautiful cities during his football career, said he had been touched by the beautiful structural outlook and serenity of those citizens and feels determined to transform Liberia and bring it on par with such places.
« I want to bring home to my country what I saw abroad, for instance, like Monte Carlo, » he said, emphasizing that the construction of the market indicates the sustained efforts he is exerting since his ascendancy consistent with his long-held plan to change the country into the Monte Carlo of Africa.
« Right now, this is not time for politics. It’s time for serious business – for serious development, » the President told the huge crowd of marketers in attendance.
« The time for politics will be in the next six years when I will be coming back to you to ask you for your vote. But while I am in my first six-year term, I am going to do everything to fulfill promises I made during my campaign, » he said.
Pres. Weah warned: « Don’t listen to those you gave 0.1% of your vote. Listen to the one you gave 61.5% of your vote. My greatest preoccupation is to work for the Liberian people who have given me the responsibility to lead them.
« That’s exactly what I am doing. That’s exactly why we have gathered here today to break ground for a US$3.8 million modern market to take our people from the sun and the rain and give them a decent place to sell. »
The Liberian leader used the ceremony to also hail the exemplary support of the Government of Japan to the government and people of Liberia in many areas of development, including the construction of roads and housing units in different parts of the country.
« We want to thank the government of Japan for what they continue to do in this country, » he said.
« I know they will be there for us always, while we are there for them so that together we build our relationship on a win-win situation. »
In a related development, President Weah has announced government’s plans to provide 10 acres of land to the Transport Union of Liberia to build a modern transit facility.
He assured the young people of Liberia, most of them in the transport sector, of his government’s continuous commitment and support to improving their situation.
He mandated the Minister of Foreign Affairs to use his good offices to attract support from partners for the construction of a modern headquarters for the Transport Union.
The President bragged about what his government has been able to achieve in a short period of time, saying that since the founding of Liberia in 1847, he is the first to begin actual work in line with his agenda before launching it.
That was in reference to the multiple pro-poor projects his government embarked upon and in some cases completed before the launch of the official development plan called the Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development.
The 14th Gorbachev International Market being constructed by BM Construction Company is expected to contain distinct compartments for the sale of different foodstuffs and other goods, including a car park.
LINA PR/PTK
