Gov’t Begins Upgrading Kiliwu–Zealakpala Road as Part of 144km Rural Road Rehabilitation in Lofa

By: Peter Kollie I Lofa County Contributing Reporter

Zorzor City—Wednesday, December 3,2025—The Government of Liberia has begun major road work in Zorzor Administrative District as part of the ongoing rehabilitation of 144 kilometers of farm-to-market roads under the Tree Crops Extension Project II (TCEP II).

Through the Ministry of Agriculture, the government has assigned Specific Constant Construction Company to pave the road connecting Kiliwu and Zealakpala—a key route that residents say has long made travel difficult, especially during the rainy season.

When visited over the weekend, several residents expressed appreciation for the government’s decision to deploy equipment and begin actual works.

According to the locals, traveling from Kiliwu or Zealakpala to Zorzor has always been a major struggle during the rainy season, with commercial fares rising as high as 500 Liberian dollars due to the terrible condition of the road.

But with the current dry season and the pavement process underway, transport fares have already dropped to 300 Liberian dollars.

Residents say they are hopeful that once the road is fully rehabilitated, the yearly suffering during the rainy season will finally come to an end.

The Kiliwu–Zealakpala reconditioning of the road is part of a larger government effort to improve rural infrastructure in Lofa County. Under TCEP II—funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)—the Ministry of Agriculture has launched the rehabilitation of 18 rural road lots across Salayea, Voinjama, Kolahun, Zorzor, Quardu Gboni, and Foya districts.

The full project aims to reconnect long-isolated communities, reduce transportation costs, cut travel time, and help farmers move their produce to market without heavy losses and unnecessary delay.

Launching the project recently, Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah said improving farm-to-market roads is key to increasing agricultural production nationwide.

Local leaders across the county say bad roads have long stopped farmers from expanding their businesses, limited access to extension services, and affected the delivery of social services.

The Ministry of Agriculture says all 18 road lots are expected to be completed within ten months, with no delays expected. The work will follow national construction standards and will be supervised by the Ministry of Public Works, with community involvement to ensure long-term sustainability.