Africa-Press – Liberia. Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has strongly defended government’s performance, contrasting recent economic and infrastructure gains with conditions under the previous administration.
“Although some would want us to believe that we are retrogressing, contrary to their narrative, we are progressing,” Minister Ngafuan said confidently. “There are a lot of indicators.”
In a live radio appearance on Monday, September 8, 2025, on state radio ELBC in Paynesville, outside Monrovia, Minister Ngafuan pointed to major infrastructure improvements that have reduced travel time to Liberia’s hard-to-reach regions.
“Travel to the southeastern region, and Lofa County has dramatically improved. People are now leaving Fish Town for meetings in Monrovia the same day. Previously, such trips would take days,” he said, noting that even senators have testified to the transformation.
Ngafuan emphasized that bad roads had long hindered economic growth by limiting market access for high-producing areas.
He also cited encouraging macroeconomic indicators, highlighting a drop in inflation and improved service delivery.
“Inflation has dropped to just over 7%. NTA (National Transit Authority) buses are now reaching Voinjama and Harper, even at the height of the rainy season,” he noted.
He highlighted progress in accessing electricity and its ripple effects on commerce.
“Electricity supply is largely stable. Businesses are no longer spending excessive amounts to keep the lights on.
That directly affects business profitability. You see us emphasizing power expansion because it matters,” he added.
The Minister revealed that Liberia is one of only 12 countries selected by the World Bank and the African Development Bank to develop an energy compact aimed at increasing electricity access from 33% to 75%.
“If that isn’t progress, let them tell you what progress is,” Ngafuan challenged.
According to him, night operations have resumed at the Freeport of Monrovia, which is another sign of increased economic activity. “People are selling longer hours now because of electricity on the streets. Water supplies have improved.”
He noted that there are no longer queues at petroleum stations, and as the price of petroleum is stable, so is the price of rice, he said. “Mothers no longer have to scramble at rice warehouses. “That is big progress.”
He praised the government’s consistency in salary payment, saying, “Civil servants are largely being paid on time. We’ve normalized salary payments to the point that when they are delayed beyond the 25th, people start to complain. The citizens are holding us to the standard of excellence we’ve introduced as a government.”
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