Claim: Assistant Minister for Labour and Manpower Development at the Ministry of Labour, Emmanuel K. Barnes-i, has claimed that the Japan Freeway Project, formerly Somalia Drive, was dedicated by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Verdict: False! Reports from the Executive Mansion and the Japanese Embassy reveal that Phase One of the project was dedicated by former President George Manneh Weah on May 30, 2018.
Full Text
Assistant Minister for Labour and Manpower Development at the Ministry of Labour, Emmanuel K. Barnes-i, has alleged that the Japan Freeway Project, formerly Somalia Drive, was dedicated by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
Barnes-I made the claim during a live radio appearance on OK FM, Tuesday, January 6, 2026.
He made the claim 2 hours and 27 minutes into the show, in response to a statement by another guest, Wanto Teah Wanto, who asserted that the Japan Freeway Project was dedicated by former President Weah.
The show generated 1.3k comments, 561 likes, and 124 shares as of January 7, 2026. DUBAWA decided to conduct a fact-check on the claim as part of its efforts to promote truth-telling in public discourse.
Verification
Our researcher visited the Executive Mansion website and accessed the official publication regarding the dedication of Phase One of the Japan Freeway Project. According to the Executive Mansion, the project was dedicated by former President George Weah on May 30, 2018.
Additionally, the official website of the Japanese Embassy in Ghana accredited to Liberia shows that the project was dedicated by former President Weah on May 30, 2018.
Conclusion
Based on reports from the Executive Mansion and the Japanese Embassy in Ghana accredited to Liberia, the claim made by Assistant Minister Emmanuel K. Barnes-i is false.