Monrovia– Finance and Improvement Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan says the nation stays “firmly on monitor” for reaffirmation of its eligibility for a second Millennium Problem Company (MCC) Compact, even because the U.S. authorities undergoes main coverage shifts beneath President Donald Trump.
By Jaheim T. [email protected]
Addressing reporters at a press stakeout on Tuesday, Minister Ngafuan outlined Liberia’s sustained diplomatic and technical engagement with MCC officers because the compact was first accredited final yr beneath former U.S. President Joe Biden.
That approval was positioned beneath assessment following the U.S. election, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the MCC Board reassessing all pending commitments.
Ngafuan stated Liberia has labored diligently to keep up momentum all through the assessment interval.
He averred that the federal government has ever since opened a devoted MCC workplace on the Ministry of Finance, recruited a nationwide coordinator and extra employees, and held a number of rounds of dialogue with MCC representatives each in Liberia and in Washington.
A two-week MCC mission led by Ms. Carrie Moynihan visited Monrovia in September, assembly with sector leaders and reviewing nationwide priorities. President Boakai, Minister Ngafuan indicated that lobbying efforts continued throughout the U.S. diaspora convention, partaking immediately with the MCC delegation.
“We’re pretty assured we’re heading in the right direction,” Ngafuan said. “From all of the engagements so far, the federal government stays optimistic.”
The Minister highlighted Liberia’s robust efficiency on the 2025 MCC scorecard, noting that the nation handed 12 of twenty-two indicators surpassing the minimal requirement of 11 and importantly met the 2 important “onerous hurdles”: management of corruption and political rights and civil liberties.
“You may go all the opposite indicators, however should you fail these, you’re not thought of to have handed,” Minister Ngafuan asserted.
He harassed that Liberia’s achievement stands out at a time when greater than 16 nations, some in competition for second compacts have been dropped from consideration beneath the brand new U.S. administration’s stricter requirements.
Finance Minister Ngafuan clarified that whereas Liberia had initially been accredited for a second compact final yr, the transition in Washington required nations to basically “re-sit the doorway examination.” “Tomorrow, the board will determine whether or not to reaffirm Liberia’s eligibility,” he stated.
“The President is assured. We’re assured. However we give the Board the good thing about doubt. After tomorrow, we’ll know.”
If reaffirmation is granted, Minister Ngafuan stated the following steps will contain detailed undertaking identification, funding allocations, and compact design, processes that might take a number of months.
Liberia’s priorities stay aligned with the MCC’s Constraints to Development Evaluation, with a robust give attention to vitality era and distribution, rural street infrastructure, entry to finance, and reforms within the enterprise surroundings, governance, and training sectors.
“Power and infrastructure are the highest priorities as a result of they’re catalysts for job creation and financial growth,” he emphasised.
The 2025 nationwide finances, he added, displays these strategic priorities. Regardless of international uncertainty and the recalibration of U.S. overseas help beneath the Trump administration.
Ngafuan underscored Liberia’s resilience and continued eligibility. “Many nations had been dropped,” he stated. “Your nation, my nation, continues to be in. We’re pretty on monitor, and I’m hopeful Liberia might be reaffirmed for the second compact.”
