TOKADEH, NIMBA COUNTY – ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman, Mr. Lakshmi N. Mittal, has announced his company’s commitment to complete the long-awaited Ganta–Yekepa road project during the official commissioning of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s state-of-the-art iron ore concentrator in Tokadeh, Nimba County.

Speaking in the presence of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and senior government officials, Mr. Mittal declared that ArcelorMittal will fulfill its commitment to complete the paving of the approximately 70-kilometer road, which has long remained a priority infrastructure need for residents of Nimba County.

“President Boakai has always spoken to me about the importance of community,” Mr. Mittal said. “We take every concern from the Government of Liberia very seriously, and we are committed to continuing our investments in education, vocational training, and infrastructure—especially the Ganta–Yekepa road.”

Mr. Mittal’s pledge comes more than a decade after the company first committed between US$37–40 million for the paving of the road, which stretches from Ganta through Sanniquellie to Yekepa.

Although the project began in 2013 as a voluntary contribution outside of the company’s Mineral Development Agreement (MDA), it was stalled by the Ebola outbreak in 2014 and a subsequent downturn in global iron ore prices.

By 2023, the company had completed the road as far as Sanniquellie. However, the final stretch to Yekepa—a key mining town—remained unpaved until now.

The road holds critical importance for residents in Nimba County. It is not only a strategic corridor for iron ore exports but also a lifeline for surrounding communities. It connects schools, hospitals, farms, and businesses across the region. Its completion is expected to reduce travel time, improve access to essential services, and lower transportation costs for both people and goods.

“For pregnant women needing urgent medical care, for children walking to school, and for farmers transporting their produce to markets, this road is more than asphalt—it’s survival and opportunity,” said a local elder who attended the commissioning ceremony.

The recommitment to complete the road is seen as a significant boost to Liberia’s development agenda and to President Boakai’s vision of rebuilding infrastructure as a cornerstone for national growth.

With Nimba being one of Liberia’s most economically significant counties, improved road connectivity is expected to stimulate trade, enhance mobility, and increase access to economic opportunities.

Traders and transporters who have struggled with treacherous conditions, particularly during the rainy season, welcomed the news. “We’ve lost goods, missed market days, and spent double on repairs because of the bad roads,” said Marie Zoweh, a local businesswoman. “If this road is finished, it will change our lives.”

“The people of Nimba matter,” Mr. Mittal stated during his speech. “And the promises made to them must be fulfilled.”

Observers say the renewed commitment could mark a turning point in restoring trust between mining companies and local communities.

The completion of the Ganta–Yekepa road could serve as both a legacy project for President Boakai’s administration and a symbol of transformation for the people of Nimba County.

“It’s been a long wait,” said Gabriel Suah, a local youth leader. “But today, with this promise, there’s real hope. We want to see the machines return and the work begin. We want to see progress.”

With ArcelorMittal Liberia’s expansion well underway and road completion now publicly reaffirmed, stakeholders are hopeful that the next phase will bring improved accountability, faster implementation, and transparent progress monitoring.

“Liberia is not just a source of iron ore,” Mr. Mittal concluded. “It is a partner in prosperity. And we are proud to walk that road—literally and figuratively—with the Liberian people.”