-Ngafuan Pushes for Expanded Arab Financing as Liberia Intensifies Regional Road Connectivity Agenda
BRAZZAVILLE, CONGO — Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has held high-level discussions with the Kuwaiti Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) aimed at finalizing a major financing agreement to support the ongoing pavement of the strategic Salayea–Konia highway corridor in Lofa County.
The meeting took place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, on the sidelines of the 2026 African Development Bank (AfDB) Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo.
Minister Ngafuan led the Liberian delegation in talks with a Kuwaiti Fund delegation headed by its Director General, Waleed Shamlan Al-Bahar.
According to information from the Liberian delegation, discussions centered primarily on concluding arrangements for the formal signing of a financing agreement tied to an earlier commitment by the Kuwaiti Fund to provide approximately US$15 million toward the pavement of the Salayea–Konia road segment.
The Salayea–Konia stretch forms part of the larger Gbarnga–Mendikorma Highway project, one of Liberia’s most important regional road connectivity corridors linking Bong and Lofa Counties to neighboring Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Arab Lenders Deepen Support for Liberia’s Infrastructure Agenda
The Kuwaiti Fund is among a coalition of Arab financing institutions that have committed support toward Liberia’s ambitious road infrastructure expansion agenda under the Boakai administration.
Other Arab lenders supporting the broader Salayea–Voinjama highway pavement initiative include the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), and the OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID).
Together, the Arab financing institutions are expected to provide substantial funding toward the complete pavement of the road corridor from Salayea to Voinjama, a project viewed as critical to economic growth, regional trade, agriculture, and cross-border integration within the Mano River Union region.
The road project has remained a longstanding national priority due to its economic and strategic importance to northern Liberia, particularly Lofa County, one of the country’s key agricultural hubs.
For decades, poor road conditions along the corridor have significantly hampered trade, transportation, healthcare access, security operations, and economic activities, especially during the rainy season.
Boakai Administration Intensifies Infrastructure Push
The latest engagement with the Kuwaiti Fund comes as President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration accelerates efforts to secure international financing for major infrastructure projects under its ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development.
The Boakai administration has repeatedly emphasized that improving road connectivity remains central to unlocking rural economic transformation, enhancing regional integration, reducing transportation costs, and stimulating private sector investment across Liberia.
Only days ago, President Boakai officially broke ground for the pavement of the Mendikorma–Voinjama corridor, describing the project as a major step toward opening up Liberia’s northern region and strengthening economic ties with neighboring countries.
The Liberian leader also praised Liberia’s growing cooperation with Arab development partners, particularly in infrastructure financing and regional development initiatives.
Liberia Seeks Expanded Kuwaiti Support
Beyond the Salayea–Konia road financing agreement, Minister Ngafuan and Kuwaiti Fund Director General Waleed Shamlan Al-Bahar also discussed broader plans for expanding Kuwaiti support to other priority sectors within Liberia’s national development agenda.
According to sources familiar with the discussions, Liberia is seeking additional cooperation in sectors including energy, agriculture, water and sanitation, education, and climate resilience.
The discussions reflect Liberia’s broader strategy of diversifying development financing partnerships while strengthening engagement with multilateral institutions and bilateral development partners from the Middle East and the Arab world.
Over the years, the Kuwaiti Fund and other Arab financial institutions have played significant roles in supporting Liberia’s post-war reconstruction efforts through investments in roads, energy, public infrastructure, and social development projects.
Economic analysts say continued support from Arab lenders could prove critical as Liberia seeks to address major infrastructure deficits while navigating global economic pressures, fiscal constraints, and rising development financing needs.
The 2026 African Development Bank Annual Meetings have brought together African finance ministers, central bank governors, development institutions, and international partners to discuss financing solutions for economic transformation, resilience, and sustainable growth across the continent.
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