PRIME MINISTER OFFICIAL OPENS THE TRANS- NATIONAL HIGHWAY AT KOTIDANGA RURAL LLG – “PM praised excavator operators as better than Kumul player”

Photo caption: (Middle) Prime Minister Hon. James Marape flanked by Gulf & Morobe Team Excavator Operators, both hails from Morobe and they are DoWH employees. PM Marape described them as better than Kumul players. Both gentleman was acknowledge for their extra ordinary skills-man ship for linking PNG 

Department of Works & Highways creates history under the Connect PNG Program by linking the PNG last Frontier of Morobe – Gulf Province at Kotidanga Rural Local Level Government (LLG) of the Trans – National Highway section at the hinterlands of Kerema district in Papua New Guinea on the eve of the 50 years of Independence on the 29th of August 2025.

DWoH connected Morobe and Gulf Province on the 50th year of PNG Golden Jubilee under the Connect PNG program of the Marape – Rosso Government.

In a significant milestone ceremony held at the heart of Papua New Guinea in the mountains of Kotidanga LLG, Kaminga village of Kerema District the Minister for Works & Highways Hon. Solan Mirisim and his Secretary Mr. Gibson Holemba accompanied Prime Minister Hon. James Marape with Finance Minister and Member for Kerema Hon. Thomas Opa officially open the Trans – National Highway connecting Lae into Port Moresby for the first time after 50 years of Independence.

These high-profile delegation with DoWH Management team flew into Kotidanga LLG with three helicopters to officially cut the ribbon where DoWH Team Morobe – Gulf connected the Morobe – Gulf missing link.

The ribbon cutting ceremony was preceded by a keynote address by Mr. Marape who praised the department of works and highways for their unwavering commitment to deliver this vital key road infrastructure services to the people of Memyamya – Kaintiba, Kanabea and Kotidanga under the Connect PNG program.

After 8 months of punching, and cutting the road through the virgin forest, rivers, and mountainous isolated region between Gulf and Morobe on both sides to meet at Kotidanga, which was the target set by the Marape – Rosso Government to connecting the missing link corridor between Morobe & Gulf in time for PNG to celebrate the independence.

Prime Minister Marape praised the two excavator operators describing them as better then Kumul player, with their skillsmanship they were able to connect the most challenging terrain on PNG so people can travel from Lae into Port Moresby after 50 years. 

The Kotidanga rural LLG was once isolated landlock area in the jungles of PNG can now see the light at the end of the tunnel thanks to the Connect PNG program for uplifting the 50 years of burden and hardship that this last frontier of PNG is now connected by road, that makes PNG truly connected.