The Government of Liberia has signed a $70.9m agreement with Chinese state-owned China Henan International Cooperation Group Co (CHICO) for the construction of the Gbarnga-Ganta-Guinea Border Road.

The project involves building a 68.61km road linking the central provincial city of Gbarnga and the Guinean border, via Ganta in the north-eastern part of the country.

South African engineering and environmental consulting firm Jeffares & Green has been appointed as the design consultant for the project.

The new programme, which comes under the Liberia Road Asset Management Project (LIBRAMP), is being funded together by the Liberian government and various partners, such as the EU, Irish Aid, UK Aid, SIDA and NORAD.

"This new road is expected to ease business and travel for citizens of Guinea and Liberia."

This new road is expected to ease business and travel for citizens of Guinea and Liberia.

Liberia Public Works Minister Samuel Kofi Woods said that the government aims to connect the capitals of all the counties through roads.

The minister added that the government will ensure the new Gbarnga-Ganta-Guinea Border Road will meet the relevant international standards.

CHICO has previously executed various road projects in Liberia, including the 91km-long road connecting Monrovia to the eastern port city of Buchanan.

CHICO is currently involved in the construction of a 165km stretch connecting Monrovia to the provincial city of Gbarnga in the central region of the country at a cost of $160m.