By: Trokon Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmil.com
MONROVIA – Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan says Liberia’s qualification for a second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact represents a renewed vote of confidence from the United States government in President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s leadership.
On Wednesday, the MCC Board declared Liberia eligible for a new compact after the country passed 12 out of the 22 performance indicators required by the U.S. Government. The achievement marks a significant diplomatic and development milestone for the Boakai administration.
Speaking in an interview with OK FM, Minister Ngafuan said the decision signals Washington’s strengthened partnership with Monrovia and sends a powerful message to the international community.
“With all that has happened, it shows that the American government considers Liberia a strong bilateral partner. It is a good signal to the global community that Liberia–U.S. relations are strong and that Liberia is on the right track in many ways,” he said.
Ngafuan referenced Tuesday’s signing of a major health-strengthening agreement between Liberia and the U.S. Government, which provides a US$124 million grant to the country’s health sector. He said the two major developments—occurring within 48 hours—underscore rising U.S. confidence in Liberia’s governance direction.
The Finance Minister is expected to hold talks with the MCC team on Thursday to discuss the next phase of the compact, including the funding amount, priority sectors, and implementation timeline.
According to him, initial discussions during an MCC visit in September identified energy, road infrastructure, and port development as Liberia’s most urgent areas of need.
“Most likely, any grant Liberia receives from the MCC will go toward energy, roads, and ports. But in the conversation with them today, we will zero down on the specific sectors and the amount,” Ngafuan noted.
Liberia’s first MCC Compact—valued at US$257 million and signed under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf—focused on strengthening the power sector, upgrading parts of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant, and improving the governance of the electricity sector.
The MCC awards compacts to countries that demonstrate strong governance, commitment to economic freedom, and investments in human capital—benchmarks Liberia appears to be steadily improving under the current administration.
