By By: The People News Online
Monrovia — Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, says the country remains “firmly on track” for reaffirmation of its eligibility for a second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, despite shifting U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump.
Speaking Wednesday at a press stakeout in Monrovia, Minister Ngafuan detailed Liberia’s sustained diplomatic and technical engagement with the MCC since the compact was initially approved in 2024 under former U.S. President Joe Biden. That approval has since been under review by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the MCC Board, which is reevaluating all pending commitments inherited by the new administration.
Liberia Maintains Momentum Despite U.S. Policy Shift
Minister Ngafuan emphasized that Liberia has remained proactive throughout the review period. The government, he said, established a dedicated MCC office at the Ministry of Finance, appointed a national coordinator, hired additional staff, and held multiple rounds of consultations with MCC officials both in Monrovia and Washington.
In September, a two-week MCC mission headed by Ms. Carrie Moynihan visited Liberia, meeting with government entities and sector leaders to assess national priorities. President Joseph Boakai and Minister Ngafuan also reinforced Liberia’s case during engagements with MCC delegates at the U.S. diaspora conference earlier this year.
“We are confident we are on course,” Minister Ngafuan said. “From all the engagements thus far, the government remains optimistic.”
Strong Scorecard Performance Bolsters Liberia’s Bid
The Minister underscored Liberia’s robust performance on the 2025 MCC scorecard, where the country passed 12 out of 22 indicators—exceeding the required minimum of 11. Crucially, Liberia also met the program’s two “hard hurdles”: control of corruption and political rights and civil liberties.
“You can pass all the other indicators, but if you fail those, you’re not considered to have passed,” he noted.
Ngafuan said Liberia’s continued eligibility is significant, especially at a time when more than 16 countries—some seeking second compacts—have been dropped under the Trump administration’s tightened standards.
Awaiting a Crucial Decision Today
Clarifying Liberia’s position, the Minister explained that while the country had been initially approved for a second compact, policy transitions in Washington meant eligible countries had to “re-sit the entrance exam.”
“Today, the Board will decide whether to reaffirm Liberia’s eligibility,” Ngafuan stated. “The President is confident. We are confident. But we give the Board the benefit of doubt. After today, we will know.”
Next Steps If Liberia Is Reaffirmed
Once reaffirmed, Liberia will move into the compact development phase—an intensive process involving project identification, funding allocation, and overall compact design. These steps could take several months and will focus on national priorities identified through the MCC’s Constraints to Growth Analysis.
Minister Ngafuan said Liberia’s priorities remain clear:
– Energy generation and distribution
– Rural road infrastructure
– Access to finance
– Improvements in the business environment
– Governance and education sector reforms
“Energy and infrastructure are the top priorities because they are catalysts for job creation and economic expansion,” he stressed, noting that the 2025 national budget reflects these strategic areas.
Despite geopolitical uncertainty and shifts in U.S. foreign assistance, the Minister said Liberia’s resilience and performance remain evident.
“Many countries were dropped,” he concluded. “Your country, my country, is still in. We are fairly on track, and I am hopeful Liberia will be reaffirmed for the second compact.”
