By: Akoi M . Baysah, Jr.
As part of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact development process, a high-level delegation from the United States government agency on Monday held technical engagements with the Board of Commissioners and management of the Liberia Electricity Regulatory Commission (LERC) in Monrovia at its offices.
The engagement follows the MCC Board’s decision in December 2025 to reaffirm Liberia’s eligibility for a second Millennium Challenge Compact and marks a critical step in shaping discussions around the country’s electricity sector.
Deliberations focused on the role of LERC under a potential new compact framework and strategies for expanding access to reliable and affordable electricity nationwide.
Ms. Carrie Monahan, the Managing Director for Africa at the Millennium Challenge Corporation led the MCC delegation and included officials from Liberia’s Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
Briefing the Commissioners, Ms. Monahan explained that the visit aimed to deepen technical understanding of Liberia’s power sector and reaffirmed MCC’s mandate of providing grant assistance to eligible countries to spur economic growth and reduce poverty.
She highlighted Liberia’s first MCC Compact as a major success, particularly citing the rehabilitation of the Mount Coffee Hydropower Plant, which restored a critical source of renewable energy to the national grid.
The MCC Africa Managing Director noted that the establishment of LERC itself was a direct outcome of the first compact, demonstrating MCC’s long-term institutional impact in Liberia.
According to her, Liberia’s selection for a second compact reflects the strong performance and positive results achieved under the initial program.
She added that MCC is currently awaiting the Government of Liberia’s final decision on priority areas of intervention and stands ready to collaborate closely with LERC in advancing electricity sector reforms and investments.
Speaking on behalf of the Commission, Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Hon. Claude J. Katta, expressed appreciation to the MCC delegation for the engagement.
Katta described LERC as a flagship success of the first compact, noting that MCC support was instrumental in establishing a credible and independent electricity regulator in Liberia.
He recalled that the first compact provided essential operational and technical assistance to the Commission and expressed optimism that a second compact would build on those gains.
Chairman Katta further outlined progress made since the close of the initial compact, including improvements in Liberia’s ranking on the African Development Bank (AfDB) Electricity Regulatory Index for Africa and strides toward liberalizing the electricity sector.
He emphasized that continued technical assistance, particularly in capacity building, would further strengthen LERC’s regulatory effectiveness and support Liberia’s broader goal of expanding electricity access across the country.
