World Bank grants Liberia US$25m

WASHINGTON – World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz on Monday dedicated US$25 million to help rebuild Liberia, after meeting with newly elected Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

“We are committing 25 million dollars to a fund for infrastructure development and building of roads in particular,” Wolfowitz said. He also said that he was seeking debt forgiveness for Liberia and was urging his counterparts at the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank to do the same.”The grant that has been given to us, pre-arrears clearance, has been very, very critical in helping us to move forward,” said Sirleaf, who was a World Bank director before her election to the presidency.She said Liberia had begun combating corruption and government inefficiency.Sirleaf was on an official visit to Washington.She clarified for reporters reports from Monrovia that she had requested Nigeria hand over former Liberian president Charles Taylor.”Mr Taylor was indicted in a special United Nations-supported court for Sierra Leone.What we have asked President (of Nigeria Olusegun) Obasanjo and the African leadership to do is to bring the matter to closure by seeing to it that Mr Taylor has an opportunity to have his day in a special court.”Liberians are fearful that Taylor supporters could cause trouble if the former president is handed over to Liberia.Nampa-AFPHe also said that he was seeking debt forgiveness for Liberia and was urging his counterparts at the International Monetary Fund and the African Development Bank to do the same.”The grant that has been given to us, pre-arrears clearance, has been very, very critical in helping us to move forward,” said Sirleaf, who was a World Bank director before her election to the presidency.She said Liberia had begun combating corruption and government inefficiency.Sirleaf was on an official visit to Washington.She clarified for reporters reports from Monrovia that she had requested Nigeria hand over former Liberian president Charles Taylor.”Mr Taylor was indicted in a special United Nations-supported court for Sierra Leone.What we have asked President (of Nigeria Olusegun) Obasanjo and the African leadership to do is to bring the matter to closure by seeing to it that Mr Taylor has an opportunity to have his day in a special court.”Liberians are fearful that Taylor supporters could cause trouble if the former president is handed over to Liberia.Nampa-AFP