Monrovia – A decision by the Liberian government to dig up part of the PHP Park to

reroute the country’s only fiber optic cable has ignited a heated debate, particularly among supporters of former President George Weah.

The park, which was inaugurated in December 2023, stands as a symbol of progress and urban renewal, but now it finds itself at the center of controversy due to its role in housing Liberia’s critical internet infrastructure. PHP Park, a state-of-the-art sports and recreation facility, was designed to transform a neglected area of Monrovia into a vibrant community space.

the pasrk was a testament to the former administration’s commitment to urban renewal. However, the park’s construction has become a point of contention following the decision to reroute the fiber optic cable, which runs through the park,

to prevent a complete internet outage in Liberia.

On April 2, the Liberia Telecommunications Authority (LTA) and the Cable Consortium of Liberia (CCL) began excavating part of the park to repair the fiber optic cable, which had been damaged during the construction of the park.

The cable, which connects Liberia to global internet services, has been at risk since heavy rocks were placed over it during the park’s construction, causing the cable to sink and disrupting the country’s internet connectivity.

The government’s actions have triggered a backlash, especially from supporters of former President Weah, who view the move as an attempt to “erase” his legacy. Wantoe Teah Wantoe, a member of the opposition Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), voiced his frustration on social media, accusing the government of trying to dismantle signature projects from the Weah administration. He claimed that the government’s decision to excavate the park was part of a broader effort to erase the former president’s contributions. “Previously, I posted that the government, in a quiet effort to erase the imprint of President Weah’s legacy, had launched an orchestrated takedown of PHP Park, a space that once bloomed with promise, now suddenly barricaded under the pretense of technical necessity,” Wantoe wrote.