Liberia’s growing stature as a regional leader took center stage on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, as the country welcomed delegates from across Africa for the official opening of the 22nd Assembly of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (AMFA).
The event, according to a release, held in Monrovia, and attended by ministers, policymakers, and international partners, is themed: “Innovative Financing and Sustainability of Road Infrastructure in the Face of Climate and Mobility Challenges in Africa.”
In his keynote address, Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, said Liberia’s role as host to major regional and continental gatherings is a clear sign of country’s progress.
“There are many ways to measure national development, from GDP to the Human Development Index. But when nations across Africa choose Liberia as a convening point for high-level dialogue, that is proof that our country has transitioned from being the region’s ‘problem child’ to a place attracting the confidence of the continent.”
This week alone, Monrovia is hosting the AMFA Assembly alongside engagements involving ministers of Finance, Economy, Public Works, and Justice, as well as ECOWAS institutions, and the Intergovernmental Action Group Against Money Laundering (GIABA).
In the coming months, the release said, Liberia will also welcome the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ) for its next assembly.
Mr. Ngafuan credited this renewed momentum to the leadership and stability provided by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, whose governance priorities place infrastructure, and especially roads at the forefront of development agenda.
“During his campaign, Pres. Boakai made it clear: his top three priorities were roads, roads, and roads. Under his guidance, the government has identified inadequate road infrastructure as one of the binding constraints to growth, and we are allocating resources accordingly.”
As outlined in the Liberia National Development Plan 2024–2029, nearly 25 percent of the nation’s public investment budget is dedicated to road infrastructure. The government has already begun reconstructing more than 400 kilometers of regional corridors linking Monrovia to Ganta, Harper, and La Côte d’Ivoire border.
In addition, the National Road Fund (NRF) is rolling out a periodic maintenance program to ensure sustainability and nationwide coverage.
Ngafuan highlighted Liberia’s growing role as a regional force in transport development, noting that the country road policy aligns seamlessly with ECOWAS priorities, including harmonized legal frameworks, integrated transit corridors, and shared governance of regional infrastructure.
Liberia, he said, is actively collaborating with Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire on major cross-border routes such as the Monrovia–Freetown–Conakry corridor and the Monrovia–Abidjan axis, critical arteries for sub-regional trade and development.
The Minister also praised the Liberia National Road Fund for strengthening transparency, accountability, and long-term financing stability in road maintenance.
He commended AMFA for its leadership in modernizing road financing across Africa and highlighted Liberia’s participation in the EU-funded Continental Reference Study on African Road Maintenance Funds, conducted in partnership with SSATP.
“This study will provide solid decision-making tools and technical guidance for reforms across our continent,” he said. “Liberia is proud to contribute to shaping the future of road financing in Africa.”
Mr. Ngafuan extended special recognition to Mrs. Josita Neufville Wento, Liberia’s Road Fund Manager, whose leadership made the Monrovia conference possible. “It is through your work that Liberia continues to attract dignitaries and partners from across the region,” he said.
The Minister also reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to building a modern, integrated, and sustainable national road system that strengthens regional integration and improves the lives of citizens.
“The Chinese say that the road to development begins with the development of roads,” he concluded. “Together, let us build Liberia’s roads, Africa’s roads, and pathways to prosperity for our people, putting smiles on the faces of ordinary citizens and driving our region toward a brighter future.”