BANGKOK, Thailand, October 14, 2026 – African Development Bank (AfDB) Group President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah has reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment to supporting infrastructure, energy, agriculture and other development priorities across member countries, including Liberia.
The commitment followed a meeting Tuesday with finance ministers of AfDB Constituency 15 on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand.
The delegation was led by Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, who chairs the constituency. Other participants included ministers Seedy K.M. Keita of The Gambia, Karefa Ansumana Francis Kargbo of Sierra Leone and Dr. Jibril Ibrahim of Sudan.
Constituency 15 comprises Liberia, The Gambia, Ghana, Sierra Leone and Sudan.
Dr. Ould Tah commended the ministers for their economic management efforts, identifying Liberia among the constituency’s leading performers.
He also acknowledged Liberia’s US$3 million commitment to the African Development Fund and outlined plans to expand lending to African countries by mobilizing additional financing through capital markets.
Minister Ngafuan welcomed the Bank president’s efforts to reduce bureaucratic delays, strengthen member-country representation and accelerate infrastructure investment.
Briefing the meeting on Liberia’s economic performance, Ngafuan reported that growth increased from 4 percent in 2024 to 5.1 percent in 2025, with a projected 5.5 percent expansion in 2026.
He said inflation declined from 12.5 percent in early 2025 to 4.3 percent by September 2026, while the debt-to-GDP ratio fell from 55.6 percent in 2024 to 54.1 percent in 2025, with a further decline to 49.6 percent projected for 2026.
Ngafuan also disclosed that Liberia exceeded its International Monetary Fund fiscal target in 2025.
The minister highlighted three AfDB-supported initiatives critical to Liberia’s development agenda.
They include the Domestic Resource Mobilization project, designed to strengthen revenue collection, particularly from the mining sector, and reduce dependence on borrowing.
He also cited the Youth Entrepreneurship Investment Bank, launched in July 2025, which aims to provide financing, mentorship and skills development while supporting the creation of up to 120,000 jobs.
Another priority is the 288-meter Cavalla River Bridge connecting Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire under the Mano River Union road program.
Ngafuan said the bridge would improve cross-border transportation, reduce trade costs and replace unsafe ferry and canoe crossings.
However, he expressed concern over construction delays and urged stakeholders to ensure the project meets its March 2028 completion target.
According to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, the discussions reaffirmed the importance of AfDB financing in supporting Liberia’s economic growth, infrastructure development and regional integration.– MFDP Press Release
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