On October 3, 2024, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) took a crucial step in regional infrastructure development by officially launching the construction of a bridge over the Cavally River. This ambitious project, which will connect Côte d’Ivoire to Liberia, is part of ECOWAS’s Vision 2050 aimed at strengthening economic integration and connectivity in West Africa.
Spanning 288 meters, this two-lane prestressed reinforced concrete bridge is much more than just infrastructure. According to Mr. Chris Appiah, Acting Director of Transport at the ECOWAS Commission, it represents “a gateway to economic transformation” for the entire region. By filling a missing link on the Praia-Dakar-Abidjan corridor, the bridge is expected to stimulate trade, reduce transportation costs, and create numerous jobs. Local authorities on both sides of the border expressed their enthusiasm for this project. Mrs. Kouakou Kalidja Épse Kouamé, Prefect of Tabou in Côte d’Ivoire, highlighted the new economic opportunities the bridge will bring to the region. On the Liberian side, Mr. Henry Cole Jr., Superintendent of Maryland County, stated that the bridge “symbolizes economic growth and cooperation between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire.”
During the site handover ceremony, Engineer Ashoke Maliki, ECOWAS Project Manager, presented the technical details of the project. The construction, entrusted to SCEGC company under the supervision of AIM Consult, is expected to last 24 months. Materials will be transported via the port of San Pedro, and a temporary installation site will be set up. The project is not limited to the construction of the bridge. It also includes the establishment of a juxtaposed checkpoint and various social initiatives, including the development of markets and health infrastructure, directly benefiting local communities.
The official groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for November 2024, in the presence of the President of the ECOWAS Commission, H.E. Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, highlighting the strategic importance of this project for regional development.
This bridge over the Cavally River represents an important step towards achieving ECOWAS’s regional integration objectives. By facilitating exchanges and circulation between Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, it is expected to contribute significantly to the economic development of all of West Africa.
