Partial Views of Doe Community Bushrod Island
By Jonathan O. Grigsby, Snr. Contributor Writer
Monrovia-Now lights will definitely be over the heads of residents of several communities on the Bushrod Island in Monrovia, as they go about their positive night activities, even when they are sleeping.
This is because the Liberian Government with support from the World Bank, on Wednesday, 1 July 2026, officially commissioned a 1. 169, 416 million United States Dollar Solar Street Lights.
The communities include Logan Town, Jamaica Road, Doe Community, Clara Town, Banjor Community and Momo Town, and the initiative targeted six hundred and fifty streetlights (650) covering 13.59 kilometers of roads in North and Southern Bushrod Island.
It is part of several transformative interventions being implemented by the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Public Works with financing from the World Bank, under the Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP).
Moreover, it is part of LURP’s broader community upgrading and urban management program, which targets Monrovia, Paynesville, Montserrado, Buchanan, Grand Bassa, Gbarnga, Bong and Ganta, Nimba.
Performing the commissioning ceremony on Wednesday night in Doe Community, Acting Public Works Minister, A. Samuka Dunnoh, says streetlights will now keep communities safer and to improve economic growth.
Acting Public Works Minister, Samuka Dunnoh
Minister Dunnoh stated, “Lights will improve road safety, deter crimes, and increase visibility for drivers and pedestrians. It will also support expanded social and activity at night”.
He noted what the national government and the World Bank have done, the beneficial residents of the solar streetlights must take serious ownership of these it by ensuring that the lights are protected and maintained.
Minister Dunnoh noted when residents take ownership of public infrastructure, they become active partners in national development and admonished them to support the government’s national development agenda.
“Our presence tonight demonstrates President Boakai’s commitment to providing modern people-centered infrastructure to the people”, he pointed out.
The Acting Public Works Minister at the same time, thanked and appreciated the World Bank for its unwavering partnership and continuous investment in Liberia’s infrastructure development also RESCO Inc., for successfully implementing.
Minister Dunnoh also thanked the local authorities and the residents of the various communities whose cooperation have contributed to the success of the important project.
Speaking at the ceremony was County Administrative Officer in Montserrado County, Sylvester Lamah who thanked the Public Works Ministry and World Bank for undertaking such a worthwhile project in Liberia.
Mr. Lamah, speaking on behalf of Montserrado County Superintendent, assured the Public Ministry Authorities that the residents of the various communities will definitely take ownership of streetlights.
“We assured you that the solar streetlights will be maintained and protected to safeguard the residents’ respective communities, as it will help them in many ways”, Lamah said.
Lamah also appealed to the Public Works Ministry to extend similar projects to other parts of Montserrado County, mainly Bensonville, which is the County’s Capital.
Speaking earlier were the Commissioner of Garworlohn Township, Rudolph Ciafa Buima, and Governor of the Borough of New Kru Town, Robert Teah, who termed the solar streetlights initiative, as a worthwhile project under this Unity Party led-Administration.
Commissioner Buima and Governor Teah thanked the Public Works Ministry and partner and vowed the residents in the various communities will ensure that the streetlights will be protected.
The ceremony was attended by a cross section of residents from the project selected communities, local authorities, Public Works Ministry-LURP stakeholder, including Deputy Public Works Minister for Technical Services, Prince D. Tamba, and Assistant Public Works for Planning and Research, Abraham Rahim Bility.
The solar streetlights initiative in the various communities on Bushrod Island, is part of the World Bank 40 million United States Dollars Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP).
About Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP)
The Liberia Urban Resilience Project (LURP), aims to enhance participating Eastern Caribbean Countries to increase flood resilience.
The project focuses on increasing flood resilience and access to urban infrastructure in the capital city, Greater Monrovia, and in the secondary cities of Paynesville, Buchanan, Gbarnga and Ganta.
It also aims to improve urban management in Liberia. The project is designed to mitigate climate and flood risks through structural and non-structural measures, provide basic services infrastructure investments in underserved neighborhoods, and improve institutional capacity for urban planning and management.
The project consists of several components, including climate resilient infrastructure and urban upgrading, strengthening integrated resilient urban development capacity, project management, and contingency emergency response.
The Government of Finance is co-funding 10.0 million euros for the project.
