–Ngafuan Pushes for Greater Liberian Representation at African Development Bank
BRAZZAVILLE, Congo – The Liberian delegation attending the ongoing Annual Meetings of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, led by Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, on Thursday, May28, 2026, held a high-level bilateral meeting with Dr. Abdul B. Kamara, Acting Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery at the AfDB.
The discussions focused on deepening Liberia’s partnership with the Bank in advancing regional integration, accelerating the delivery of critical infrastructure projects, and expanding cross-border trade and economic cooperation within the Mano River Union sub-region.
During the meeting, Minister Ngafuan expressed the Government of Liberia’s appreciation for the African Development Bank’s longstanding support to several transformative development initiatives across the country and the region.
Among the projects highlighted were the Côte d’Ivoire–Liberia–Sierra Leone–Guinea (CLSG) Power Interconnection Project, the Zwedru–Fish Town–Harper Highway Project, and the Cavalla River Bridge, which links Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire and is expected to significantly boost regional trade and connectivity.
Call for Greater Liberian Representation
A key issue raised by the Liberian delegation was the need for increased representation of Liberians within the African Development Bank workforce.
Minister Ngafuan noted that only 11 Liberians are currently employed by the Bank, a figure he described as disproportionately low considering Liberia’s longstanding membership and engagement with the institution.
He urged the AfDB to support efforts aimed at improving Liberian representation at both the professional and managerial levels.
Improved Project Performance
The Finance Minister also highlighted Liberia’s progress in improving the performance of its AfDB-funded project portfolio.
According to Ngafuan, the country’s project disbursement rate has increased from 43 percent to 51 percent, while the percentage of flagged projects has dropped significantly from 47 percent to 32 percent.
He attributed the improvements to ongoing government efforts to strengthen project management, monitoring, and implementation mechanisms.
The Minister said the gains demonstrate Liberia’s commitment to ensuring that development projects deliver measurable results for citizens.
Focus on Youth Empowerment and Agribusiness
Ngafuan further discussed the AfDB-sponsored Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank (YEIB) initiative, a flagship programme designed to provide financing, mentorship, and business development support to approximately 30,000 youth-led enterprises across Liberia.
He stressed the importance of linking the YEIB initiative with the Bank-funded Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) Project currently being developed in Buchanan, Grand Bassa County.
According to the Minister, integrating the two initiatives would create sustainable employment opportunities for young people while promoting agribusiness development, value addition, and industrial growth.
Buchanan–Cestos Road Project Highlighted
The Liberian Finance Minister also underscored the urgency of paving the Buchanan–Cestos Corridor Road, a critical segment of Liberia’s Coastal Highway network.
He described the project as a major missing link in the country’s transportation infrastructure and emphasized its importance in improving access to southeastern Liberia, facilitating trade, and stimulating economic growth in underserved regions.
“The Buchanan–Cestos Corridor is essential to unlocking economic opportunities and strengthening national connectivity,” Ngafuan stressed.
AfDB Responds
Responding to the concerns raised by the Liberian delegation, Dr. Abdul B. Kamara acknowledged the issue of low Liberian representation within the Bank and assured officials that the institution is reviewing participation levels among member countries.
He explained that while certain positions are allocated through constituency arrangements, most management and professional positions within the AfDB are filled through competitive recruitment processes.
Nonetheless, Dr. Kamara disclosed that the Bank is actively examining ways to encourage and incentivize greater representation from member countries whose staffing levels remain low.
In the interim, he encouraged qualified Liberian professionals to closely monitor vacancies and career opportunities advertised through the Bank’s official recruitment platforms.
Commendation for Liberia’s Progress
Dr. Kamara also commended Liberia for the notable improvements recorded in project implementation and portfolio performance.
He praised the government’s efforts to increase disbursement rates and reduce the number of underperforming projects, describing the progress as an encouraging sign of stronger institutional coordination and project oversight.
The African Development Bank currently maintains a portfolio of 17 active projects in Liberia valued at approximately US$350 million, covering critical sectors such as transport, energy, agriculture, governance, and financial sector development.
The meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between Liberia and the African Development Bank and highlighted both parties’ commitment to advancing infrastructure development, regional integration, youth empowerment, and sustainable economic growth.
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