MONROVIA, Liberia — The Government of Liberia and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development on Friday, December 12, signed a US$12.8 million financing agreement to advance construction of the Salayea–Konia Road corridor, a critical 50-kilometer stretch linking northern Liberia to the rest of the country.
The agreement was signed during an official ceremony held at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP), where senior government officials and representatives of the Kuwait Fund reaffirmed their commitment to completing the long-delayed road project as part of Liberia’s broader infrastructure recovery agenda.
Speaking on behalf of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan described the agreement as a “great day for this country,” assuring Liberians that the road project will not be allowed to stall again.
“The assurance is that people in that region — and the President wants to tell you — that this road project will not stop,” Ngafuan said. “The Minister of Public Works and myself, we are not going to stop.”
A Road Project Revived Through Credibility
Minister Ngafuan traced the history of Liberia’s partnership with the Kuwait Fund back to the 1970s, noting that Kuwait has stood with Liberia “in thick and thin,” including during periods of civil conflict and economic distress.
He recalled leading Liberia’s debt-relief negotiations with the Kuwait Fund following years of war, when Liberia’s debt-to-GDP ratio exceeded 740 percent.
“The Kuwaiti Fund canceled a significant portion of the debt and then gave us a grant,” Ngafuan said, adding that the Fund later financed feasibility studies and led an Arab consortium to support the Gbarnga–Salayea road, the first phase of the project.
Although the project faced setbacks during the Ebola crisis and periods of debt-service default, Ngafuan said the Boakai administration moved swiftly in April 2025 to restructure Liberia’s obligations and restore confidence among lenders.
“Our credibility is key,” he said. “And, so you have decided to do more, because we are proving credible.”
Regional Financing Mobilized
Under the new agreement, the Kuwait Fund’s US$12.8 million loan forms part of a larger financing package mobilized by Arab development partners to complete the Salayea–Konia section and beyond.
Ngafuan disclosed that:
- BADEA has committed US$30 million;
- The OPEC Fund for International Development has committed US$30 million;
- The Saudi Fund has already committed US$10 million, with additional financing expected.
“We have essentially mobilized the funding to take us from Salayea to Konia,” Ngafuan said, adding that the partners are prepared to continue financing the road all the way to Voinjama.
He further announced that the Voinjama–Mendikorma segment will be addressed under the Pavifort IV agreement, recently ratified by the Legislature.
Public Works Minister Welcomes Phase Two
Earlier, Public Works Minister Roland L. Giddings welcomed the Kuwait Fund delegation and praised Kuwait’s long-standing support for Liberia’s road sector, particularly in the northern corridor linking agricultural regions to Monrovia.
“We are happy that after the crisis, Kuwait again came to Liberia’s aid,” Giddings said. “You initiated the feasibility studies, paid for them, and helped put the vehicle together to get us where we are today.”
He acknowledged past delays but described the signing as a fresh start.
“We may have backtracked a little bit, but we are here again to re-energize,” he said.
Leading the Kuwaiti delegation, Mr. Nawaf Al-Dabbous Sr., Head of Delegation of the Kuwait Fund, reaffirmed his institution’s continued support for Liberia.
“We are here to assure you that we are continuing our support and assistance to the esteemed government of Liberia and the people of Liberia,” Al-Dabbous said. “Especially the citizens who need these services in the northern part of Liberia.”
He expressed optimism about implementing the current phase of the project and signaled openness to supporting additional priority projects identified by the Liberian government.
Roads as a Development Priority
Minister Ngafuan underscored that road connectivity remains a cornerstone of President Boakai’s ARREST Agenda, describing infrastructure as fundamental to national development.
“The President considers road and road connectivity as topmost,” Ngafuan said. “As the Chinese say, the road to development begins with the development of roads.”
He emphasized that financing is no longer the principal obstacle, noting that the focus has shifted decisively to execution.
“It is not about financing now,” he said. “It is about how fast we can go. It is execution now.” The ceremony concluded with the formal signing of the financing agreement, marking a significant step toward completing one of Liberia’s most strategic road corridors and improving access between the country’s northern counties and the rest of the nation.
