President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., recently concluded a successful round of high-level meetings in the United States, with one of the most strategic being a key engagement with officials of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).
The talks, held on September 29, 2025, focused on strengthening U.S., Liberia cooperation and exploring the potential for a second MCC Compact to boost Liberia’s development agenda.
President Boakai met with MCC leadership at the Corporation’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.
The MCC delegation was led by Carrie Monahan, Regional Team Leader and Managing Director for Africa, alongside senior officials Daniel B. Petrie, Acting Officer-in-Charge; Daniel Barnes, Managing Director for Policy and Evaluation; and Monica L. Chavez, Senior Program Advisor.
Accompanying President Boakai were key Liberian officials including Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan, Education Minister Dr. Jarso M. Jallah, National Security Advisor Samuel Kofi Woods, Economic Advisor Sahr Johnny, Director General of the Cabinet Nathaniel Kwabo, and Liberia’s Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Alhassan Conteh.
Strengthening Development Ties
The meeting highlighted both parties’ commitment to revitalizing Liberia, U.S. development cooperation.
Speaking on behalf of MCC, Mr. Petrie reaffirmed the Corporation’s enduring partnership with Liberia and commended the government’s ongoing reform efforts.
Ms. Monahan updated the Liberian delegation on the MCC’s recent mission to Monrovia, which engaged a broad spectrum of stakeholders including government officials, civil society, and the private sector.
She disclosed that the team is preparing a Constraints to Growth Report, which will identify priority sectors for potential investment under a second MCC Compact.
The report’s findings will inform the MCC Board’s decision in December 2025 on whether to reaffirm Liberia’s eligibility for further funding.
President Boakai Reaffirms Reform Agenda
President Boakai welcomed the MCC’s continued interest in Liberia and praised the Corporation’s previous support, particularly in infrastructure and policy reforms.
He emphasized that his government is fully committed to meeting MCC’s policy benchmarks, anchored in transparency, accountability, and good governance.
The Liberian leader further noted that renewed MCC investment would greatly support his administration’s ARREST Agenda, a development blueprint focusing on Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism.
“The enduring partnership between Liberia and the United States has transcended administrations, and we are eager to deepen that bond through renewed development collaboration,” the President said.
As Liberia awaits the MCC Board’s forthcoming decision, the administration has pledged to intensify its reform efforts, demonstrating readiness for deeper engagement under the MCC framework.
