21/07/2025
Inspite of all the controversies and political fights about which government owns the IRISE project, B. Garmondyu Zogar ( Don B. Zogar) writes for clarification ✍🏼✍🏼
DEVELOPMENT IS NOT A ONE-GOVERNMENY SHOW, IT IS CONTINUITY!
I’ve watched the debate unfold from Gbarnga to Ganta to Kakata, about who should take credit for the newly completed Senior Secondary Schools. Political loyalists on both sides have jumped in: some waving flags for the past administration, others declaring it a win for the current one. But here’s the truth: governance isn’t a scoreboard and national development isn't a competition. It’s a relay, where each administration is expected to pass the torch forward. The real success lies not in who started or finished the race, but in the fact that the race continued and that today, our students will walk into modern classrooms because of that shared commitment. Continuity is the win. And it’s time we all sink that into our minds.
As someone who worked on this project for the past four years, I feel compelled to add a voice; not to fuel division, but to promote understanding and shift our collective mindset. Instead of arguing about who developed the concept, laid the foundations, or who cuts the ribbon, I believe we should be more concerned about something far more important: whether the children who are poised to occupy those classrooms will receive the quality education they’ve been promised. Because at the end of the day, concrete walls and beautiful paint do not educate children. The people, policies, and purpose-driven investments do.
Understanding How a World Bank Project Works
To begin, let’s understand on how World Bank–funded projects actually work. These projects don’t just happen overnight. They follow a structured path with clear deliverables and checkpoints along the way; called the project life cycle. The World Bank’s project life cycle has six stages: identification, preparation, appraisal, negotiation/approval, implementation, and completion/validation and evaluation. Every stage in the project cycle matters and each stage requires approval before moving to the next. At every step, there are milestones to reach and documents to submit. Read here for more info (https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/products-and-services/brief/projectcycle). Typically, the process from identification to approval takes up to two years or more depending on the scope, complexity and nature of the project. This is why I called it continuity, not a one-man show.
The IRISE Project - A Multi-Government Effort
The Improving Results in Secondary Education (IRISE) Project began in 2016 under the administration of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, where it passed through the stages of identification, preparation, and appraisal. Those phases alone took years of careful planning by civil servants, consultants, and technical teams led by George Kronnisanyon Werner (former Minister of Education) and D Woods Baysah Sr. former Getting-to-Best in Education- G2B Project Coordinator).
When President George Weah took office in 2018, the transition enabled continued rounds of engagement to bring the new administration up to speed and subsequently the project was approved in July, 2019 and reached the effectiveness stage in by October, 2019. Read here (https://projects.worldbank.org/en/projects-operations/project-detail/P164932). His government signed the necessary agreements, initiated procurement, and kickstarted actual construction moving designs from paper to physical buildings. This was led by Professor Ansu Sonii (former Minister of Education), Alton V. Kesselly (former Deputy Minister for Planning & Research) and Latim Dathong (former Deputy Minister of Administration).
Called to Contribute
Then came along the Project Delivery Team which I was fortunate to be part of, as the Environmental and Social Safeguards Specialist, through an Independent Consultant Contractor arrangement. By June, 2021 when I joined the team, the project had not gotten into full swing because of the delays caused by the COVID 19 Pandemic. At that time, actual school construction works were also delayed because the design had not been finalized.
There, I had the privilege of leading a team of engineers and architects in developing the complete design development package, including architectural and engineering drawings, technical specifications, Bills of Quantities (BoQs), and detailed cost estimates. These documents formed the basis for the procurement process and ultimately led to the commencement of actual construction works in October 2022. Credit goes to the exceptional team of professionals who worked under my supervision as Lead Design Consultant, and whose expertise directly shaped the schools we are celebrating today: Architects: Uriah King, George Williams Nketsia, Zvi Mathews, and Miatta K. N. Kollie; Engineers: Adam B. Yaba, Kieyee G. Bordolo, Augustine Koffa, and Michael Yeah Jr.; and AutoCAD Technicians: Lavela LaveeTorborgi Beyan, A. Sammy Jaycon, Ledsa Paasewe, and David Duobah. Their dedication, precision, and collaborative spirit brought the vision of these schools to life transforming policy into tangible learning environments.
Fast-forward, came the UP-led administration of His Excellency President Joseph N. Boakai, inheriting the project during its later stages of implementation. The political transition caused its own delays, allowing time for appointments and commissioning of the new team led by the Minister of Education Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah. This team has worked to resolve contract delays, reassess unfinished sites, revalidate procurement, and move the schools to full completion, now preparing for the handover and official dedication.
So, when we talk about IRISE, we’re talking about a national project built over three administrations, each holding the baton and running their leg of the race.
Who Deserves the Credit?
If credit must be given, I would shine light to honor the unsung heroes. The contractors ICC and CONSTAR who worked year-round, laying brick by brick, under the sun and rain to bring our plans to reality. Our consultants HYDROPLAN Ingenieur-Gesellschaft mbH, the independent German company that provided supervision services; our Construction Manager (Zarwu Zaizay), our M&E Specialist ( Nyema Jaeploe ), finance and procurement officers, and particularly the division of Physical Environment headed by Director Adam B. Yaba, who ensured compliance with every international standard. All these wouldn’t happen without the leadership of, Abraham A. Kiazolu II, Project Coordinator of IRISE who spanned the two administrations. The supra are the group of Liberians and partners who turned ideas into impact. These are the people who should be celebrated not just politicians.
Let’s Shift the Narrative
It’s time to rise above this politics of personal credit. Let’s reward completion over competition. Let’s celebrate continuity over division. Let’s understand that development is teamwork across time and when one government finishes what another started, Liberia wins. Congratulations to the Government and People of Liberia. Let’s shift the conversation to sustainability and achieving the intended outcomes.
Enjoy some of the memorable moments I created.
World Bank U.S. Embassy Monrovia, Liberia Executive Mansion-Liberia Ministry of Education - Liberia
