Africa-Press – Liberia. The West Africa Focus Group is a vital arm of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA), functioning as a collaborative platform for sharing best practices and accelerating cross-border infrastructure.
The Manager of the National Road Fund of Liberia, Mrs. Joseta Neufville-Wento, has been elected as the Vice President of the West Africa Road Funds Focus Group at the 13th General Assembly held in Dakar, Senegal, from April 8-11, 2025.
Mrs. Wento joined the newly elected President Soukeye Diop of Senegal’s Road Maintenance Fund and Special Advisor Mr. Tardji of Togo, who will lead the group following the completion of Col. Moussa Issaka Ikizi and his team’s two-year term
The West Africa Focus Group is a vital arm of the African Road Maintenance Funds Association (ARMFA), functioning as a collaborative platform for sharing best practices and accelerating cross-border infrastructure amongst countries in the region. The goal of the 13th assembly was to strengthen the working relationships among the managers of Road Maintenance Funds (RMF).
This year’s assembly was themed “Innovation in the Management of the Road Maintenance Funds of the West Africa Focal Group: Towards Sustainable Solutions.” This theme underscores the ongoing challenges faced by Road Maintenance Funds, particularly the quest for sustainable financing strategies as they mark over two decades of existence. Among the key discussions held was the importance of synergistic action among West African countries concerning financing mechanisms and the implementation of high-quality roadworks.
This is not the first major international role for Mrs. Wento. In 2023, she was appointed as the Chairperson of the Executive Committee for Membership Fees during the 21st Annual General Assembly of ARMFA in Ivory Coast. In this capacity, she worked with the four focal groups of Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western Africa, focusing on strengthening membership across the continent. Additionally, she was tasked with evaluating applications and advising the President of the Africa Road Funds on the Democratic Republic of Congo’s participation in two focal group associations.
Mrs. Wento holds a Master of Science degree from the prestigious Colorado School of Mines in the USA, and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Accounting with distinction from Cuttington University. Furthermore, she is an Italian-trained bridge inspector and maintenance practitioner, certified by the International Road Federation (IRF) Global in the United States.
In her new role as Vice President, Mrs. Wento said she will collaborate closely with the President of the West Africa Focus Group to enhance transparency and financial governance, ensuring the efficient utilization of road maintenance funds. She plans to implement performance contracts and accountability processes in road maintenance programs while facilitating the exchange of experiences among member countries to mobilize resources and improve the quality of roadworks.
This election comes on the heels of significant achievements by the NRF in 2024, which saw remarkable progress in strengthening internal capacity, accountability, and financing road projects across Liberia. Under her leadership, the NRF recorded a historic revenue increase of over $31 million. Speaking at the assembly in Dakar, Mrs. Wento expressed optimism about her new position, stating, “This is a win for Liberia. I am hopeful that this role will position Liberia for enhanced regional and international collaboration, ensuring greater access to funding networks and cooperative initiatives.” She emphasized her commitment to establishing stronger regional relationships to facilitate smoother operations for the NRF.
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