Author: Julius Konton

By: Julius Konton Liberian President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has reaffirmed agriculture as the backbone of Liberia’s economic recovery and long-term prosperity, unveiling new data that shows steady sector growth while outlining an ambitious national push for rural roads, mechanization, and food self-sufficiency. Speaking at the official opening of the National Agriculture Fair (NAF) 2025 in Gompa City, Nimba County, President Boakai told farmers, development partners, and government officials that Liberia’s fertile land, resilient farmers, and renewed policy focus are beginning to yield measurable economic dividends. “If you put your finger in our soil and leave it there, it might…

By: Staff Writer A public dispute over Liberia’s national budget has intensified after a former finance minister and sitting senator Amara Konneh criticized the House of Representatives’ passage of the FY2026 budget, prompting a detailed rebuttal grounded in fiscal law and historical budget data. At the center of the controversy are budgetary transfers, a standard public finance mechanism permitted under Liberia’s Public Financial Management (PFM) Act to address emergencies and unforeseen expenditures within approved appropriations. Critics have portrayed the transfers as evidence of fiscal recklessness. However, budget experts S. Emmanuel Lloyd argue that the data tell a markedly different story.…

By: Julius Konton Liberia has secured a major financial boost for one of its most strategic infrastructure projects as the Government of Liberia and a consortium of Arab development partners on Friday signed a new US$12.8 million financing agreement to advance the second phase of the Gbarnga–Mendikorma Road Project, a transformative highway intended to connect central Liberia to the northern border with Sierra Leone. The signing, held in Monrovia, brought together officials from the Government of Liberia, the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development, the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Saudi Fund for Development, and other Arab partners long…

By: Julius Konton In a significant boost to Liberia’s agricultural development agenda, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., on Thursday met with the Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Qu Dongyu, at the Executive Mansion for high-level discussions centered on modernizing Liberia’s food systems and strengthening long-term cooperation. The delegation, one of the highest-profile FAO missions to Liberia in recent years included senior officials such as Deputy Director-General Godfrey Magwenzi, FAO Chief Economist Dr. Maximo Torero, Assistant Director-General Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, and technical experts Yang Hau, Lineo Molise, and Hong Shen. Liberia’s Agricultural Potential at Center…

By: Julius Konton The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Board of Directors has officially reaffirmed Liberia’s eligibility for a Second MCC Compact, handing President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. and his administration a major foreign policy and governance victory. The decision follows several months of intensified reforms, inter-agency coordination, and diplomatic engagement. The announcement positions Liberia to negotiate a second multi-million dollar compact aimed at strengthening infrastructure, economic growth, and governance systems expected to support the administration’s long-term development priorities. A Milestone Rooted in Reforms The U.S.-backed MCC selects partner countries based on strict criteria in good governance, economic freedom, and investing…

By: Julius Konton In a landmark development for labor relations in Liberia’s maritime sector, the National Port Authority (NPA) has signed a long-awaited Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the Dock Workers Union of Liberia (DOWUL) and the Liberia Labour Congress ending a ten-year delay that left more than 3,000 port workers without updated benefits, safety guarantees, or modern labor protections. The breakthrough, achieved at the NPA Corporate Headquarters in Monrovia, comes at a critical moment for a sector that manages over 90% of Liberia’s international trade volume and contributes an estimated US$50–70 million annually to national revenue streams. Workers, union…

By; Julius Konton Liberia’s Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, says he remains “cautiously optimistic” that the country will retain eligibility for a second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, as the MCC Board convenes today in Washington, D.C. to reassess global aid commitments. Ngafuan’s remarks came during a press stakeout in Monrovia, where he outlined Liberia’s sustained diplomatic, technical, and policy engagements activities he described as “critical to maintaining momentum” since the compact was first approved in late 2024 under former U.S. President Joe Biden. That approval entered a mandatory review phase following the election of President Donald…

By: Julius Konton Liberia’s Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, has commended the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS) for what he described as an “unmistakable transformation” of the state broadcaster, promising increased government support as the institution expands its radio and television footprint across the country. The Minister made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the LBS leadership, led by Director General Eugene L. Fahngon, where he praised the station’s rapid progress in strengthening national communication infrastructure. “Good things are happening” Minister Ngafuan, reflecting on his keynote address at the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas…

By: Julius Konton The Government of Liberia says it is making tangible progress in responding to the daily economic pressures facing citizens commonly referred to as the nation’s “bread and butter issues” through improvements in transportation, electricity access, domestic production, and job creation. Assistant Minister for Planning at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Wellington Barchue, made the assertions during the launch of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2026–2030, a roadmap designed to support a “peaceful, inclusive, and resilient Liberia.” Transport Costs Drop by Over 60% Amid Road Improvements Barchue highlighted what he called one of…

By: Julius Konton President Joseph Nyuma Boakai on has returned to Liberia after representing the country at the inauguration ceremony of Ivorian President Alassane Dramane Ouattara in Abidjan, an event that brought together an exceptional gathering of West and Central African leaders, underscoring the region’s desire for democratic continuity and political stability. President Ouattara’s inauguration, held at the Palais de la Présidence, comes at a sensitive moment for the region, where five West African countries have experienced coups or attempted coups since 2020, and where ECOWAS has continued to push for stronger democratic norms and constitutional order. A Strong Regional…