[allAfrica.com] [Africa_2005] World Bank Sets Conditions For Assistance, Takes New Lawmakers To Ghana For Exposure Liberian Observer (Monrovia) NEWS December 21, 2005 Posted to the web December 21, 2005 By Nathan Mulbah Monrovia The World Bank has set conditions for the delivery of its assistance package for Liberia. They include the willingness of the in-coming government to carry out reforms, move towards repair work, and ensure proper management of resources and commitment to the Governance Economic Management Assistance Program (GEMAP), among others. A team of the World Bank officials set the pre-conditions on Wednesday, December 14, during a meeting with heads of several committees of the Transitional Team at the office of Vice President-elect, Mr. Joseph N. Boakai. A release from Mr. Boakai's office said the meeting, also attended by the Unity Party Chairman, among others, centered on immediate World Bank assistance to Liberia. The head of the World Bank delegation whose name was not given in the release, was quoted as saying "there is a very strong interest at the World Bank and among donors to support the incoming Government of Mrs. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf." Making some general comments, the World Bank official said several other countries are now benefiting from World Bank funds to address issues related to those of Liberia. According to him, the case of Liberia is now being studied to establish an appropriate amount for Liberia. The release said the World Bank official, however, stressed the importance of the role of the Governance Economic Management Assistance Program (GEMAP) in the World Bank relations to the country. He said the bank would provide expertise to enhance strategic planning and some technical services in areas like the National Port Authority and the Liberia Telecommunications Corporation. On the questions of the possibility of the World Bank forming part of the supporting arm of a six month Quick Impact plan of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration, the official said the World Bank would provide US$30 million to finance the restoration of electricity and water to Monrovia and road repair, among others. Responding to questions from the floor, the bank official said that some of the major pre-conditions are for government to remove all impediments to proper management. "That will be an indication of government's readiness to reform," he added. Another World Bank official said at the meeting that management contracts would need proper handling. "The private sector has made good impression," she said. She added that only US$8 million was now available for infrastructure, but said more money may be raised with the help of donors. Addressing the issue of bad roads, the World Bank official indicated that road construction would be a part of the package. Also commenting at the meeting, vice president-elect Joseph Boakai said other NGOs, such as the German Technical Cooperation (GTC) will be engaged in road repair as well. In a related development, the Bank Official said projects identified by the communities are connected to The Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment. He said this to point out that the World Bank is actually doing a lot in the country, the release said. A member of the transitional team in the meeting, expressed concern about the technical implications in reviewing contracts with the outgoing transitional government. He said this might hinder the timing of World Bank funding of such projects. Addressing this concern, the head of the Bank delegation said that both the World Bank and the incoming government would treat details of such concerns. He pointed out that it would depend largely on what the government will do about such matters. Meanwhile, shortly after the inauguration of the new government, about 94 elected legislators are expected to fly to Ghana for a one-week interaction with their Ghanaian counterparts, a World Bank official disclosed yesterday. Making the disclosure yesterday at the Capitol Building, the seat of the legislators, Mr. Parminder Brar, the Lead Financial Management Expert of the World Bank, said the Liberian lawmakers will depart in the first week of January, just after the inauguration on the 16th. While in Ghana, Mr. Brar said the newly elected Liberian lawmakers would study activities at the Ghanaian Parliament in a bid to have them acquainted with parliamentary proceedings. "The United Nation Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) will be responsible to transport the elected Liberian lawmakers to Ghana while the World Bank will underwrite the cost for the 94 lawmakers' stay in Ghana," Mr. Brar told journalists in Monrovia. In a related development, Mr. Brar said the World Bank has agreed to under- write the cost of the renovation and refurbishing of the Liberian Legislature. Brar made the statement after he made an assessment tour of the building. The Acting Speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA), George Koukou, accompanied Mr. Brar who headed the three-man World Bank assessment team on the assessment tour. Speaking to journalists afterwards, Mr. Brar said the World Bank is also considering supporting the incoming legislature in the area of capacity building for the newly elected lawmakers. He said the refurbishment exercise on the Capitol Building would commence in the second week of January. At the moment, most of the facilities at the Capitol Building are completely run-down and are in dire need of renovation. The urinal system in the bathrooms is closed to visitors and employees at the Capitol. There is no organized mechanism for ensuring constant supply of water and the general maintenance of the assembly hall. The World Bank financial expert, who was visibly shocked by the dilapidated appearance of the building, said the World Bank would not completely renovate the building. But he said his team was holding discussions with the Acting Speaker and other stakeholders on the matter. Although the World Bank has the resources to renovate the entire building, Mr. Brar said there are competing demands in Liberia for assistance. In this direction, he said there was the need for the bank to first ascertain the amount required to effect the refurbishment of Capitol Building. Mr. Brar said the World Bank interests in assisting the National Legislature lies in the fact that the legislature, in any democratic system plays a pivotal role. He stressed the need for strengthening and building the capacity of the National Legislature as a way of nurturing democratic governance in Liberia.   =============================================================================   Copyright © 2005 Liberian Observer. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). =============================================================================