Tokadeh, Nimba County – June 9, 2025 – A wave of excitement and renewed hope swept across Nimba County as ArcelorMittal Executive Chairman, Mr. Lakshmi N. Mittal, made a landmark announcement during the commissioning ceremony of ArcelorMittal Liberia’s state-of-the-art iron ore concentrator. In the presence of His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Mr. Mittal pledged that his company will complete the long-awaited asphalt pavement of the Ganta–Yekepa road which the company began and left half-way in Sanniquellie, thus fulfilling its share of the commitment. This project symbolizes both promise for trade and economic transformation for the County.

“President Boakai has always spoken to me about the importance of community,” Mr. Mittal remarked. “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.”

This commitment, made at the Tokadeh Crusher Site during the formal launch of the company’s Phase II expansion, marks a pivotal moment in the socio-economic transformation of Nimba County and beyond.

ArcelorMittal Liberia had previously committed between US$37–40 million to fund the paving of the approximately 70-kilometer Ganta–Yekepa corridor, an initiative outside of its Mineral Development Agreement, conceived in 2013 as a key benefit to the people of Nimba.

While the project initially stalled due to the devastating Ebola crisis and the global crash in iron ore prices, progress resumed. By June 2023, the road had reached Sanniquellie, providing improved travel time and safer transport. However, the final stretch to Yekepa remained unfinished until now.

Mr. Mittal’s renewed commitment injects new momentum and trust into President Joseph Boakai’s development agenda. For local residents, the road is more than asphalt, it is a lifeline. It connects villages, towns, schools, hospitals, farms, and businesses. It means that pregnant women can reach clinics in time, children can attend school regardless of the weather, and farmers can bring their goods to market with less damage and delay.

The completion of the Ganta–Yekepa road is expected to unlock economic growth in one of Liberia’s most naturally endowed counties. For traders and small businesses long hindered by treacherous transport conditions, a smooth road means lower costs, expanded markets, and increased job opportunities. This is the infrastructure of inclusion, the foundation of sustainable development.

The commitment by Mr. Mittal, signals that Liberia is not just a source of raw materials, but a partner in shared prosperity. It is a message that communities hosting extractive industries will not be forgotten but prioritized in development conversations.

In a country where infrastructure gaps continue to widen socio-economic disparities, this pledge represents more than a corporate gesture. It is a statement of accountability and a test of corporate citizenship. It is also a crucial opportunity to restore confidence in public-private partnerships as viable pathways for national development.

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

As ArcelorMittal Liberia’s world-class concentrator begins operations, ushering in a new era of industrial value addition, job creation, and economic growth, this road project stands as a powerful symbol: of transformation, of dignity, and of a brighter future where Liberia’s resources fuel opportunity for all.

Upon completion, this road will not only cement ArcelorMittal’s reputation as a long-term partner in Liberia’s development; it will also become a lasting legacy for President Boakai’s administration and for the people of Nimba County who have waited patiently for years. In Mr. Mittal’s words and the promise of action behind them lies a vision of Liberia that is modern, inclusive, and on the move.

From the mines of Tokadeh to the classrooms of Ganta, and the farms of Sanniquellie to the hospitals of Yekepa, the pavement of the Ganta–Yekepa road is a bold declaration: that development is not just coming, it has already begun.