Former President George Manneh Weah has offered his explanation for the suspension of two China-funded overhead bridge projects during his administration, linking the delay to broader geopolitical tensions between the People’s Republic of China and the United States.
Addressing congregants at the Forky Jlaleh Family Fellowship Church along the Roberts International Airport (RIA) Highway, Weah said his government had fulfilled all technical and administrative requirements for the construction of the overpasses but declined to take sides in what he described as international political disagreements.
According to the former president, Chinese authorities allegedly expected Liberia to align itself with their broader political posture amid tensions with the United States, an expectation he said he rejected in keeping with Liberia’s longstanding diplomatic neutrality.
Referring to the overpass near the Ministerial Complex, which is now under construction, Weah said the project originated during his tenure. He maintained that while Liberia welcomed development assistance, it would not compromise its foreign policy independence.
Weah emphasized that Liberia has historically maintained cordial relations with both Washington and Beijing, arguing that disputes between major powers should not be transferred onto smaller partner nations. He further suggested that China’s decision to suspend the projects occurred after his refusal to engage in external political rivalries, with implementation resuming only after his administration left office.
China’s Earlier Commitments
During the early years of the Weah administration, China publicly reaffirmed its support for Liberia’s Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development (PAPD). At the time, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi pledged continued cooperation based on principles of sincerity, mutual benefit, and practical results.
Those commitments were later echoed by Liberia’s Embassy near Beijing following bilateral discussions between then Foreign Minister Gbehzohngar Milton Findley and Wang Yi on the margins of a Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Coordinators’ Meeting.
An official statement from the Liberian Embassy disclosed that China agreed to provide a gratuitous assistance package of 200 million Chinese yuan, approximately US$29.5 million, as an initial tranche for projects agreed upon during President Weah’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the 2018 FOCAC Summit in Beijing.
The funds, according to the release, were deposited into a joint account at the China Development Bank to be co-managed by both governments and earmarked for several infrastructure projects, including two overhead bridges intended to reduce traffic congestion around the Ministerial Complex and along SKD Boulevard.
Despite these arrangements, construction of the overpass bridges did not commence during the Weah administration, and the projects remained dormant throughout his six-year tenure.
Projects Revived Under Boakai
Nearly two years into the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, the long-stalled projects were revived. On September 2, 2025, President Boakai and Chinese Ambassador to Liberia Yin Chengwu officially broke ground for the construction of the two overhead bridges in Monrovia.
Speaking at the ceremony, President Boakai expressed appreciation to the Chinese government, describing the project as essential to improving traffic flow and urban mobility in the capital.
Ambassador Yin characterized the initiative as a reflection of strengthened bilateral relations, anchored on what he described as sincerity, tangible outcomes, and good faith. He noted that the projects stem from renewed high-level engagements, including discussions between President Boakai and President Xi Jinping at the 2024 FOCAC Summit in Beijing.
The two overpass bridges, one near the Ministerial Complex and the other at SKD Boulevard along Tubman Boulevard, form part of a broader China-assisted infrastructure program and are expected to be completed in 2027.
Source: FrontPage Africa
